The odd shower for the western North Island today (Waikato through to Wellington), turning to rain in the afternoon although not about Waikato till evening, this rain reaches elsewhere about the upper North Island overnight. Western East Cape catches a shower or two in a northwesterly airflow.

Heavy rain with possible thunderstorms eases to showers this morning for the West Coast, morning spots of rain clear the lower South Island then from afternoon showers moves into Southland then Otago. These showers may be heavy then easing evening. An isolated shower or two may reach into South and Mid Canterbury this afternoon also, clearing evening.

Rain or showers for much of the western North Island on Thursday including Bay Of Plenty, there may be a few heavy falls about northern Taranaki and the Central North Island then easing in the afternoon. Wellington stays largely dry all day. The east coast is mostly dry also however scattered falls spread from the west into Hawkes Bay for a time in the afternoon.

Showers for the West Coast of the South Island are heavy at times with thunderstorms and hail, mainly dry in the east however once again during the afternoon showers develop for Southland and Otago, some may be heavy with thunder then clearing in the evening. An isolated shower may appear about South Canterbury and perhaps Banks Peninsula in the afternoon otherwise staying mainly dry.

Showers continue for western parts of the country on Friday, easing evening. Northland is mainly dry however. The east coast continues it’s mainly dry streak however Southland, Otago and this time South Canterbury gets some shower activity then clearing away in the evening.

This coming weekend is full of more strong westerly quarter winds, fronts and heavy rain for western regions. Spring is well and truly here.

For rainfall accumulation maps for 1, 2 and 3 days out please visit our new maps page: https://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/maps-radars/rain/accumulative-rainfall

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz