A front straddles the upper South Island today, linking into a low pressure system in the Tasman Sea. Meanwhile a high pressure system lies in the South Tasman Sea and another north of the North Island.

For the upper North Island conditions are mainly dry today. From Taranaki through to Wellington and across to the Wairarapa there may be a shower or two, perhaps some drizzle at times in the west. About the ranges of northern Hawkes Bay and Gisborne isolated heavy showers develop this afternoon, perhaps the chance of a thunderstorm also then clearing this evening.

We have rain or showers north of the Glaciers along the West Coast, showers spreading into Nelson and Marlborough this afternoon. Canterbury sees rain or showers at times today, parts of South Canterbury may dry out this afternoon. About the main divide between Mid / North Canterbury and North Westland rain may be heavy at times.

Northern parts of Otago may see a shower or two at times today otherwise fairly dry. The only other place of interest is about the mountains of Fiordland, mainly in the north where there may be isolated showers develop this afternoon then clearing this evening.

Image – Wednesday 10th January 2018 4pm MSLP / Rain map – weathermap.co.nz

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