A strong northwesterly airflow lies over New Zealand today, a front passes over the South Island during the day then the North Island this evening. Expect heavy rain in the west of the South Island, the odd shower in the east. Showers mainly move into the North Island this evening.

Auckland & Northland
Cloudy spells with the odd sunny break at times, cloud thickens from late afternoon then a shower or two moves in during the evening before clearing overnight as northwesterlies change more westerly.
Highs: 15-17

Bay Of Plenty, Waikato & Central North Island
Cloudy spells, thickening during the afternoon. A few showers move in during the evening then clear at night. West to northwest breezes.
Highs: 13-17

Eastern North Island
Mostly sunny with some high cloud at times, mainly about the Wairarapa. Expect gusty northwesterly winds during the day, strong to gale force about Wairarapa.
High: 18-20

Western North Island
Becoming cloudy early in the morning with some rain developing around midday. Rain clears early evening with cloud then breaking up a little. Expect breezy northwest winds, easing a little in the evening.
Highs: 14-15

Wellington
Cloudy with some rain developing late morning, strong to gale northerly winds. Rain clears late afternoon with northerly winds then easing, after rain clears a few sunny spells making their way through for a time.
Highs: 14

Marlborough & Nelson
Strong northwesterlies in the morning, some scattered rain develops early morning for Nelson then late morning about Marlborugh, then clears early afternoon for all. Sunny weather develops after rain clears, northwesterlies ease off a little at that point too.
Highs: 15-17

Canterbury
Some early morning rain with strong northwesterlies then clearing to become sunny by midday. Northwesterlies ease off in the afternoon a little but may still be a bit breezy at times.
High: 16

West Coast
Heavy rain early in the morning with a chance of thunder, rain then eases. Later in the evening rain intensity picks up again. Expect breezy northwesterly winds.
High: 14

Coastal Otago
Any early rain clearing then expect mostly sunny weather with breezy northwesterly winds.
High: 14

Southland & Central Otago
Sunny spells in the morning with breezy northwesterlies. Some cloud at times from midday and there may be the odd shower pass through at times from then on also.
Highs: 10-12

WeatherWatch.co.nz