A ridge over the North Island brings mainly settled weather today although about southwestern parts expect increasing cloud, northerlies will be strong about Cook Strait. The South Island sees rain easing in the west, some high cloud out east, a southerly change moves through Otago and Canterbury afternoon and evening bringing cloud and a few showers, showers about coastal Otago could be heavy.

Auckland & Northland
Mostly sunny with light west to southwest winds becoming moderate in the afternoon. Sea breezes about Northland although westerlies push through to the east coast there in the evening.
Highs: 20-22

Central North Island, Bay Of Plenty, Waikato
Sunny spells with westerly breezes, skies mostly sunny about the Bay Of Plenty. Cloud increases about the Central North Island from afternoon.
Highs: 21-23

Eastern North Island
Mainly sunny with light winds, breezy northwesterlies about the Wairarapa with some high cloud.
Highs: 22-24

Western North Island
Mostly cloudy with west to northwest breezes, chance of a brief shower now and then especially about northern Taranaki and Kapiti in the afternoon otherwise mainly dry.
Highs: 18-20

Wellington
Cloudy spells with strong northerly winds, chance of the odd shower at times from afternoon otherwise mainly dry.
High: 18

Nelson
Cloudy spells with northwesterly winds, chance of a brief shower or two in the afternoon then skies clearing up in the evening as winds ease.
Highs: 19-20

Marlborough
Sunny areas with a few clouds, breezy northwesterly winds.
Highs: 25-26

Canterbury
Morning high cloud clears to a mostly sunny day, light winds and warm temperatures. In the evening winds change southwest bringing some cloud and the chance of a shower.
Highs: 25-27

West Coast
Early rain eases to the odd shower and a few brief sunny spells. Showers ease afternoon then clear evening. Northerly winds.
Highs: 17-18

Coastal Otago
Early high cloud clears to a mostly sunny day with light winds, in the afternoon southwesterlies develop bringing cloud and showers which ease evening. One or two showers may be briefly heavy.
Highs: 19

Central Otago
Chance brief spot of rain early in the morning any of which clears, then mostly sunny with west to northwest breezes. In the east of the region there may be a few late afternoon and evening isolated showers any of which clear at night.
Highs: 19-22

Southland
Brief early morning rain clears then expect mostly sunny weather with southwesterlies developing by midday, a few isolated showers may get going in the afternoon mainly inland then clearing in the evening.
High: 16

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz