A low pressure system centred over the North Island and a large high in the Tasman Sea directs in a cool southerly airflow over New Zealand today.

North Island
Rain moves into the upper North Island early this morning, possibly heavy then easing to showers and sunny spells around midday as northerly quarter winds change to the west or southwest. Showers may become heavy late afternoon / evening in the west with a chance of thunder then easing overnight. Showers for the lower western North Island, possibly heavy from afternoon then easing this evening.

Early rain eases to showers for Wairarapa, rain moves into Hawkes Bay this morning then Gisborne around midday before easing to showers this afternoon, winds from the south.

Afternoon temperatures in the low to mid twenties, perhaps only high teens for some lower parts of the North Island.

South Island
Rain or showers for Canterbury, Marlborough and Nelson easing this afternoon becoming patchy by evening with long dry spells developing. South Canterbury may have a mainly dry day after any early showers clear. A mix of sun and cloud for Southland and Otago, cloud thickens up for Southland late morning bringing the odd light shower which clears by evening. Mostly sunny and warm for the West Coast after any early cloud clears, morning showers for Buller then clearing.

Temperatures in the mid to high teens about Southland, Otago and Canterbury. Low twenties about Nelson and Marlborough, mid twenties for parts of the West Coast.

WeatherWatch.co.nz