It’s looking wet to start in many places around the country on Thursday, as a low and a front combine over the upper South Island and most of the North Island – before passing to the east in the afternoon.

This means a wet start before afternoon sunny spells, accompanied by prevailing westerly winds.

For most of the South Island, it’s shaping up to be a mostly sunny day in the east, although there may be some morning rain for Marlborough and Nelson – then becoming sunny there.
In the west, areas of cloud (with rain for Fiordland) spread northwards later in the day, and may carry a few showers with them.

Some rain moves into Southland and Central Otago in the afternoon, while a few showers then reach coastal Otago by evening, after a southwest change.

– Aaron Wilkinson & Drew Chappell, WeatherWatch.co.nz

– Photo: Lindy Payne