High pressure dominates the wider New Zealand area on Monday with slight areas of low pressure forming across both Islands during the afternoon.

For the upper North Island expect areas of morning cloud then breaking to sun in the afternoon, some cloud may hang about western coastal areas during the day. Winds from the southwest.

The lower North Island can expect a mostly sunny day however from afternoon cloud moves into the Wellington and Wairarapa regions then pushing further north along the east coast into Hawkes Bay and Gisborne in the evening, this cloud may bring a light shower or two otherwise staying mainly dry. Light winds then picking up from the south before midday.

The Waikato, Bay Of Plenty (mainly just inland) and East Cape could see isolated heavy showers form late afternoon or evening.

Nelson and Marlborough have a mainly sunny start then cloud builds from afternoon, light winds gradually tend onshore. Canterbury and coastal Otago has a mostly cloudy day, there may be a few mornings showers then drying out in the afternoon for most, could still be a light shower or two hang about inland parts of Canterbury for the rest of the day. Winds from the south then tending to the east in the afternoon.

Central Otago and Southland sees morning cloud break to afternoon sun. The West Coast has a mix of sun and cloud. About the Main Divide isolated showers could form late afternoon / evening, they may turn heavy for Buller then clearing at night.

It will be a warm day for most of the country, temperatures hitting the late twenties about some central North Island areas, only getting into the low to mid teens for Canterbury / Coastal Otago. Nelson / Marlborough through to Hawkes Bay in the east has a good first half of the day then will gradually cool down as cloud moves in during the afternoon.

Image: Monday 10th December 2018 4:00pm MSLP / Rain map – weathermap.co.nz

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