A low pressure system moves in over the North Island today coming in from the northwest, this brings heavy rain and strengthening southeasterlies later today. The South Island has south to southwesterly winds.

North Island

Showers for the upper North Island turn to rain this morning, becoming heavy before midday, easing from late afternoon as blustery northerlies change southeast, winds become strong overnight with coastal gales. Some rain may move back in overnight. Thunderstorms possible north of Auckland this afternoon for a time then Coromandel.

Mostly cloudy for the lower North Island, showers spreading to most parts this morning then turning to rain by early afternoon. Rain becomes heavy Taranaki across to Hawkes Bay northwards this afternoon. Southeasterlies strengthen this afternoon with winds rising to gale about coastal parts from this evening, especially through Cook Strait and Taranaki. Snow overnight lowers to 500m for the lower North Island and about the Central Plateau, perhaps getting down to 700m overnight for the ranges of Gisborne.

South Island

Showers in the south and east becoming more widespread or persistent this afternoon, showers may turn to rain for Canterbury then easing this evening with dry spells developing especially south of Banks Peninsula. A few showers for the West Coast clear this afternoon. Nelson has a dry day but Marlborough and Tasman may see showers. Southwesterly winds, strong in the south and perhaps along the east coast, tending more to the south this afternoon, winds ease in the south after midday.

Snow to about 200 or maybe even as low as 100m in the south, 500m further north in the east then up into Canterbury flurries may get as low as 200 to 100m this evening. As air gets very cold this evening for Canterbury precipitation levels will drop off so while snow flurries may get low little if anything will settle.