A northwesterly airflow lies over New Zealand today, a cold front and accompanying southwest change develops about the lower South Island this morning reaching the lower North Island around midnight. This front will weaken as it moves northwards.

North Island

Expect a mix of sun and cloud for the upper North Island with light northwest winds, mostly cloudy for the lower western North Island (Taranaki to Wellington) with the odd spit, becoming a little more widespread later in the evening / overnight for a time. Strong to gale northwesterly winds through Cook Strait. The east coast has a dry day with high cloud.

South Island

Heavy rain about South Westland pushes northwards reaching North Westland in the afternoon, easing by evening as a southwest change moves through. Thickening cloud about Nelson, showers from afternoon, there may be a brief period of rain late afternoon / evening then clearing. High cloud for Marlborough, late afternoon / evening a few spits may spread from the west then clearing, gusty northwesterlies.

High cloud for Canterbury, strong northwesterlies this morning north of Banks Peninsula then easing. Heavy rain spreads into the high country around midday then clearing late afternoon. Mainly dry nearer the coast, a southwest change does push through mid afternoon but only delivers the risk of a shower, it will bring cooler temperatures though after a warm morning / early afternoon.

A period of rain / showers moves through Southland early this morning then Otago by midday with a cool southwest change, clearing late afternoon. Overnight further showers move in.

Temperatures

Expect highs in the late teens or early twenties for most of the North Island, perhaps sticking around the mid teens about the Central Plateau. The warmest spots will likely be Hawkes Bay / Gisborne. Highs in the late teens / early twenties about Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury also. Elsewhere for the South Island sticks in the mid teens.

WeatherWatch.co.nz