An unstable westerly airflow lies over the country today with strong westerly winds especially over the North Island. On Friday conditions continue to remain unstable over the North Island and upper South Island, easing elsewhere. Saturday sees yet another front move over the country pushing over the South Island for much of the day then onto the lower North Island overnight. In saying that, many main centres on Saturday should be dry or fairly dry.

UPDATE 10:52am: We currently have a band of heavy rain moving over the North Island in a west to east fashion, this will ease to showers this afternoon although showers may still be heavy at times with a risk of thunder / hail. This evening is when a vigorous front moves in from the west bringing a heightened risk of thunderstorms for western regions with strong to gale westerly winds.

Thursday
Blue – Areas of heavy rain or downpours/heavy showers for many western regions today, especially morning and then again later in the evening. There may be heavy showers at any time during the day however with scattered (hit and miss) thunderstorms and a risk of hail, mainly Buller northwards and Auckland southwards. Some of these downpours will be intense – but the front isn’t too slow so any thunder shouldn’t linger too long. The faster the showers/thunderstorms move the less likely we are to see flash flooding/damage.

This afternoon and early evening thunderstorms may also form anywhere from North Otago and through into Canterbury, especially inland then clearing later in the evening.

Purple – Gusty westerly winds for much of the North Island during the day however winds really ramp up in the evening with gales possible especially in the west. Overnight strong southwesterly winds with winds gusting to gale develop about the eastern South Island mainly near the coast. Classic spring weather.

Friday
Blue – Heavy showers with thunderstorms and a risk of hail for the upper North Island, easing from afternoon – they will be scattered about so not everyone will get one, but the risks are there. Some morning heavy rain possible for Wellington / Wairarapa then easing. Overnight heavy rain and thunderstorms move into South Westland too.

Buller / Nelson and perhaps Marlborough sees isolated showers develop in the afternoon, some of these may become heavy with thunderstorms / hail then clearing in the evening.

Purple – Strong westerly winds for the upper North Island ease in the evening by which time winds tend southwest. Strong south to southwesterly winds about the east of the South Island (coastal) and lower North Island ease in the evening also.

Saturday
Blue – Heavy rain with possible thunderstorms push northwards along the West Coast during the day, easing in the evening. Late afternoon / evening heavy showers and thunderstorms with hail may develop south of Banks Peninsula then easing and clearing later in the evening or perhaps even overnight.

Purple – Northwesterly winds gusty / strong about inland Canterbury and Marlborough in the morning then easing. Strong to gale northwesterly winds through Cook Strait ease in the evening.

– Please note, the idea behind this update is to focus on the main weather highlights, which is why not all regions are mentioned. 

For specific 10 day information for your city, town, rural community or island please see the 1500 forecasts on our homepage!

– Aaron Wilkinson, WeatherWatch.co.nz