An anticyclone brings mainly settled weather across New Zealand on Monday, for the South Island morning cloud breaks to sunny areas in the east with easterly winds. Mostly sunny in the west with light winds, a few clouds could build about the ranges though. Over the North Island expect cloud in the east with the odd drizzle patch possible, mostly sunny out west although cloud build ups about Waikato northwards could bring an isolated shower late afternoon / evening.

Anticyclonic weather continues on Tuesday, mostly sunny over the South Island with light winds in the morning then afternoon sea breezes. A similar picture for the North Island, still some cloud in the east but expect sunny areas too. The Waikato northwards once again could see an isolated shower or two mainly late afternoon  / evening.

Wednesday sees anticyclones either side of New Zealand while a ridge over the North Island bridges the gap, mostly sunny weather across the country with east to northeast winds in the east and westerly winds in the west. Auckland and Northland see afternoon sea breezes and the risk of a shower late afternoon / evening. Some cloud south of the Glaciers on the West Coast of the South Island, chance of a light shower about Fiordland.

Thursday is a little different, a front moves onto the lower South Island very early in the morning bringing showers but it runs out of steam as it moves northwards. A brisk southerly change is likely as it moves northwards over the South Island during the day bringing cloud but the moisture content drops away. The North Island is mainly dry, some cloud in the west and mostly sunny out east.

Friday returns to mostly sunny weather over the South Island, cloud in the east breaks away in the afternoon. For the North Island it’s cloudy in the east with some drizzle possible, sunnier out west with southeasterly winds. Auckland could see an isolated shower late afternoon / evening due to a weak area of low pressure over the region.

Homepage image: Tuesday 17th February 2015 4:00pm Rain / MSLP map – weathermap.co.nz

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz