A slack pressure gradient leads to light shifty winds at the surface today, these converge and then cold upper air assists in providing instability meaning thunderstorms this afternoon for some. Meanwhile an occluded front slowly clears East Cape later this evening or overnight.

North Island

Partly cloudy skies with winds from the north, afternoon sea breezes develop in the west. The odd isolated shower about with rain in the east thanks to an occluded front, this rain clips eastern Northland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel then into Bay Of Plenty and especially East Cape where rain will be heavy all day long before easing at night. Expect rain for Gisborne and parts of Hawkes Bay especially in the north. Isolated showers for Northland through to Waikato and perhaps down into parts of the lower North Island may become heavy in spots this afternoon then clearing this evening.

South Island

A mix of sun and cloud for most regions, dry for most this morning but there is rain or showers south of Greymouth along the West Coast. From midday or perhaps later this morning isolated showers develop about North Otago through to Mid Canterbury and about Buller / Tasman, showers then develop further north into Canterbury this afternoon. Showers becoming heavy with thunderstorms and hail in spots (especially Canterbury) before easing / clearing this evening. Some rain clings on to parts of Canterbury clearing overnight. Southland and Marlborough look to stay dry all day, Nelson may pick up a shower this afternoon. Winds are light tending onshore after midday.