High pressure now lies well east of NZ and it’s this large high that will help guide the remnants of Yasa towards NZ next week. Nothing is yet locked in with what Yasa might do, but one possibility is that it could bring a much more humid sub-tropical nor’east flow into northern NZ.

But for today, Saturday, we have that high extending over the North Island, but slipping off the South Island.

This set up allows a warm, sub-tropical, nor’wester to kick in through a number of places in the South Island.

Eastern areas of both islands are likely to reach 30 degrees today inland in some places.

A cooler change with rain spreads into Fiordland, South Westland and Southland.

Here are the regional forecasts for Friday…(refer to your LOCAL HOURLY forecasts to make sense of it all)

Northland, Auckland, Waikato & Bay Of Plenty
A mix of sun and cloudy with light winds, mainly from the north east. Sea breezes too.
Highs: 22-27

Western North Island (including Central North Island)
A mix of sun and cloudy with light variable winds. Sea breezes.
Highs: 20-25

Eastern North Island
North to north east winds brings a mix of sun and cloud. Inland areas look warmest.
Highs: 20 – 28

Wellington
Northerlies return bringing a mix of sun and cloud.
High: 21

Marlborough & Nelson
Mostly Sunny with northerly quarter winds. Hot inland.
Highs: 23 – 30

Canterbury
A hot day with a mix of sun and cloud with northerly quarter winds.
Highs: 21 – 32

West Coast
Fairly cloudy with a few light showers or drizzle patches, otherwise dry. Nor’West breezes.
Highs: 18 – 24

Southland & Otago
Quite cloudy at times but sunny spells more likely in Central Otago. Northerly quarter winds. Dry or mainly dry.
Highs: 18-27