A low pressure system and front bring unsettled weather to the North Island today, perhaps a few afternoon thunderstorms north of Auckland. The South Island has high pressure sneak in so calming down but it is cold.

North Island

Showers south of the Waikato with south to southeasterly winds, rain for Bay Of Plenty may be heavy then easing this afternoon. Parts of Hawkes Bay and Gisborne may be dry this morning then rain moves in as southerlies freshen. Late afternoon or evening showers will clear in the southwest (Taranaki through to Kapiti). Snow may get down to 800m later this evening about the Central Plateau. Auckland northwards will see showers, some may become heavy with thunder and hail this afternoon then easing evening as light winds change south to southeast.

South to southeasterly winds through Cook Strait and pushing into Taranaki especially about coastal parts will be gale to severe gale.

South Island

Cloud in the far south today and in the east, a few showers about the coastal fringe in spots although a majority are dry, it’s only north of the Rakaia River that showers are a little more frequent (but still quite coastal), the ranges of North Canterbury catch slightly more frequent showers and these spread inland a little more with a few snow flurries to 500m. Tasman and the Marlborough Sounds sees showers clear this morning then sunny spells increase. The West Coast has a sunny day with southeasterlies.

Some inland areas like the Mackenzie Country and parts of Central Otago will likely be frosty this morning, and again overnight.

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