After a hectic week, things are finally starting to calm down as we approach the weekend, with a relatively benign anticyclone moving over the country, while a big, low pressure system to our east moves away. Here’s what that means for your Friday.

North Island

For most of the North Island, southwesterly breezes will bring a mix of sun and cloud, with some fresh gusty conditions on the East Coast and the chance of a shower or two for most western areas.

The ranges behind Gisborne are also looking like candidates for an isolated shower, but where there is any rainfall activity, it won’t be significant, and in all likelihood won’t affect the main centres.

South Island

It’s looking sunny down south too, with light winds and a bit of high cloud about Southland and Otago in the afternoon – as well as a chance of rain on the West Coast and Fiordland.

The ranges of Buller, Nelson and inland Marlborough could see an afternoon shower or two, spreading southwards along the Alps, but as in the North Island, the main centres can look forward to a more settled start to the weekend.

– Aaron Wilkinson & Drew Chappell

– Map: earth.nulschool.net