A strong southwest airflow lies over the country today, gales are likely for coastal parts. Expect rain or showers for many regions, snow about the far south to 500m.

North Island

Showers in the west, beefing up late morning in the southwest (Taranaki through to Kapiti) then further north this afternoon as strong southerwesterlies strengthen even further with gales likely about the coast, conditions start to ease back this evening. Bay Of Plenty should be mainly dry then showers move over this afternoon, clearing evening. Dry in the east then showers push northwards this afternoon with strong to gale southwesterlies moving through, showers confine to the coastal fringe later this evening. Wellington picks up the odd shower this afternoon with gale southerlies, clearing this evening. Snow about the Central Plateau to 900 or perhaps 800m at times, a little lower (700m) for the ranges of Wairarapa.

South Island

Strong southwesterlies for most today with coastal gale to severe gale winds, winds in the east are light first thing this morning but southwesterlies strengthen before midday. Expect rain in the west and south, heavy falls at times for Southland and Otago but easing back a touch later this afternoon or evening. Only a few showers move through Canterbury for a time then clearing from this south this afternoon. Banks Peninsula and the Kaikoura coast will see slightly more persistent showers, these clear this evening. Showers clear South Westland this afternoon with sun breaking through. Later this evening showers will only remain for Fiordland, Southland and Otago (where there may still be the odd heavy fall), also coastal Buller. Snow about the far south to 600 or 500m, the same goes for Banks Peninsula.

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