Showers for the western North Island today, mainly dry for the east coast.

Heavy rain with hail / thunderstorms for the West Coast of the South Island, similar weather spreads into Southland and Otago this afternoon for a time and possibly up to Banks Peninsula nearer the coast late afternoon. Canterbury and Marlborough sees rain in the high country and this may spread to the coast at times. Showers for Nelson turn to rain in the afternoon, clearing late evening. Expect snow in the western and southern South Island to lower to 500m.

Morning showers for the western North Island clear on Wednesday, mainly dry elsewhere in the north. Expect rain or showers for the West Coast of the South Island and Southland / Central Otago, mainly dry for coastal Otago up through to Nelson in the east.

Expect the odd shower during the day south of about Auckland in the west on Thursday, dry elsewhere for the North Island. The South Island sees heavy rain in the west, a cold southwest change moves into Southland around midday bringing rain, pushing into Otago during the afternoon and reaching Canterbury in the evening. Nelson / Marlborough sees rain later in the evening and overnight respectively.

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