Mainly dry for most of New Zealand today, expect a few showers for the West Coast of the South Island, turning to rain overnight for Fiordland and becoming heavy. Rain also moves into Southland around midnight with a southwest change, pushing into Otago overnight.

A cold front moves northwards over the South Island on Tuesday, rain in the west with a few heavy falls. Early rain or showers clear the lower South Island then mainly dry, only the chance of a shower or drizzle patch about Canterbury / Marlborough as the front moves northwards. Later in the evening or overnight showers move into the lower North Island and eventually up to Taranaki in the west.

Another cold front moves northwards over the South Island on Wednesday, this time mainly bringing rain or showers in the east. Tuesday’s cold front continues to move northwards over the North Island on Wednesday bringing showers, it will weaken during the day however. Frosty conditions develop about the inner lower South Island overnight as skies clear.

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