A few snow and rain showers are yet to clear the country but an incoming anticyclone (or high) is already on the way towards us from Australia.

While the next 48 hours still look windy for some areas the sun is likely to come out in many parts of the country.

The anticyclone will move in properly by Wednesday bringing settled weather – most regions should get between three and six settled/mostly calm, mostly dry, days.

Many places this week may be dry and sunny for five or six days.

By Friday and Saturday a strengthening north west flow will push across the South Island and lower North Island as the high starts to depart out to the Pacific and a rain band with wind comes in from the Tasman.

Main Centre forecasts – next several days…

• Auckland may have a few showers on Monday as the south west flow continues but winds are likely to tilt more southerly overnight Monday making for a sunnier, drier, Tuesday to Thursday. Dry weather, with perhaps a bit more cloud, is the forecast for Friday and Saturday then a few showers possible on Sunday. 
• Wellington is a bit wintry on Monday with showers and some hail and a high of 11, but Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday look mostly sunny and dry.  The strong north to north west winds return on Friday as the high starts to slip away and the air pressure begins to fall – with windy weather into the weekend.
• Christchurch, like Wellington, starts off with wintry showers – some snow down to about 300m, but only rain showers and hail into the city is likely – with sunny spells too. The city is then sunny and dry from Tuesday to Friday, with gusty nor’westers on Friday (esp inland) – lifting the daytime highs from around 12 to 14.

– Image / File, Allen Pidwell

– WeatherWatch.co.nz