it’s looking calmer today around most of the country, with no thunderstorm risks anywhere, including Auckland – which is good or bad news, depending on your feelings on thunder.

The only other real risk is wind.
Strong southwesterlies will blow right along the east coast of New Zealand, with gales at times – though these winds are quite coastal so just inland and it won’t be strong at all.
Winds will ease for the east coast of the South Island in the evening, and for the eastern coast of the North Island overnight.

From Northern Taranaki through to Auckland and also the western Bay Of Plenty, brisk to strong southwesterly winds will prevail.
Winds may gust to gale at times – but the risk is a little less than along the east coast.
Again in these regions, winds finally ease toward evening.

And it’s a frosty start for inland areas of both islands, with temperatures hovering around 1 or 2, might get to 0 in some places.

– Aaron Wilkinson & Drew Chappell, WeatherWatch.co.nz

– Photo: Shane Meyers