Mainly dry for the South Island today apart from showers in the east Canterbury northwards clearing away this afternoon. Overnight light showers move into Fiordland. The North Island sees rain in the east (more so about Hawkes Bay / Gisborne) gradually easing to showers this afternoon. Showers about Bay Of Plenty spread northwards through to Northland during this afternoon, some areas may stay fairly dry like northern Waikato and Auckland.

Frosts will be a concern for inland North Canterbury, inland Nelson / Marlborough overnight tonight and into Friday morning, growers take note. Frosty conditions are also likely about the Central North Island.

Dry for most of the North Island tomorrow, showers about Hawkes Bay and Gisborne ease then clear during the afternoon. A cold front pushes northwards over the South Island from late afternoon bringing heavy rain in the west and a cold showery southwest change in the east reaching Canterbury overnight.

Dry for the North Island on Saturday apart from a few showers moving in between Taranaki through to Wellington in the afternoon. Showers for the West Coast of the South Island, morning showers in the east clear away. Cloudy areas and the odd shower for western New Zealand on Sunday, looking mainly dry in the east.

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