A rain maker is today moving up the West Coast with some heavy falls – while most other parts of New Zealand can look forward to a dry or mostly dry day ahead.

A front moving up the South Island is weakening as it heads north.

Ahead of the front are hot, brisk, nor’westers and warm northerlies.  Behind it is a cooler south west change.

Christchurch may today reach 28 degrees.  On Monday the high is 15.

Upper North Island
Light winds and mostly sunny inland, cloudy periods along the western coastline, including Auckland.  There may be a few fog patches inland too, first thing.  Winds are variable and highs will be mostly in the low 20s.

Lower North Island
North to north west winds pick up today and become gusty in Wellington and surrounding areas.  Cloudy periods from time to time, especially in western areas.  It will be a dry and warm day though with highs ranging from around 19 to to the mid 20s.  Again cloudiest weather will be likely in western areas, otherwise it’s a fairly sunny day for most places.

Upper South Island
Sunny and hot with north to north west winds building. Later in the day cloud will thicken, mostly in the west, and rain is possible in western areas, like the Nelson ranges and possibly some spillover into Nelson by tonight. Eastern areas will be hot with highs in the late 20s.

Lower South Island
Strong, hot or warm north to north west winds turn cooler south west with sunny weather in the east (some high cloud may thicken up for a time).   Rain on the West Coast will ease in the south as it heads north.  Highs for many areas will be in the late teens or early 20s before the cooler change moves in.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz