Most of the country is in for a stunning afternoon as a large high continues to spread over the country pushing a low pressure system north east of New Zealand out in to the Pacific.

Winds are light and skies are mostly clear across the nation with temperatures climbing well in to the teens in the north and west of the North Island.   Around Auckland it’s already touching 16 degrees with 15 in Tauranga and 14s in many other North Island centres. 

It’s cooler in the South Island although it’s likely to be pleasant this afternoon under mostly clear skies and little wind.  Highs this afternoon in the south are likely to reach the lower teens with perhaps only single digit highs in parts of northern Southland and Otago under building clouds.

A cold southerly is blowing across Hawkes Bay and Gisborne with gusty conditions around East Cape.  The weather is likely to ease there as the day progresses.

In the South Island’s south-west cloud will continue to build from the Tasman Sea as a front slowly approaches.

Newly hatched female butterly flies about in the windy blue sky in New Lynn. Image / Zelda Wynn

Let us know what conditions are like where you are – post a new comment below – and don’t forget to tell us where you’re from!