An anticyclone is centred west of the North Island in the Tasman Sea on Monday directing a west to southwesterly airflow over New Zealand during the day.

For the upper North Island some morning cloud may bring the chance of a shower then expect mostly sunny weather for the afternoon with southwesterly breezes. Temperatures ranging from 16 to 17 degrees about the Waikato up to 18 or 19 for the Bay Of Plenty and Northland.

For the lower North Island in the west expect a similar outlook, winds may tilt a bit more to the west and be a bit breezier. Along the east coast expect a sunny day. Temperatures in the mid teens for most, reaching into the high teens for Hawkes Bay and Gisborne.

A cloudy day for the West Coast of the South Island with areas of rain or showers, winds breezy from the west or southwest. High’s in the low to mid teens. Southland has a mainly cloudy day with showers at times, winds gusty from the west, strong about the coast.

Mostly sunny weather for the east coast of the South Island with some high cloud at times, winds from the northwest gusty at times about inland areas. Temperatures reaching into the high teens in the afternoon.

Image: Monday 7th May 2018 3:00pm MSLP / Rain map – weathermap.co.nz

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz