A weak ridge of high pressure extends over much of New Zealand on Sunday, accompanied by fairly settled weather, mild temperatures and sunny skies for many regions… but not quite for everyone. There’ll be a general breezy Nor’West airflow across most of the country making for pleasant conditions around inland and eastern areas, with temperatures bumping into the early 20s.

Slightly cooler South-Westerlies, however, are expected to swirl in from the Tasman across the upper North Island, and along the West Coast of both islands, dragging in some cloudy periods and putting a slight cap on the daily highs. Windy Wellington will hold true to its name, along with the Kapiti Coast and Manawatu, which will get a heavier dose of the Nor’Westers, becoming strong and gusty in these regions during the afternoon.

A front slowly moving onto the mainland in the Far South is set to bring typical pre-frontal conditions, West to Nor-West winds will ramp up to near gale-force in exposed places across inland Canterbury, Otago, Southland and particularly along the South Coast, bringing cloud into the west and occasional rain to Fiordland and South-Westland from the get-go. This cooler change will be felt around Southland and Southern Otago from midday as the front moves North, spreading showers and South-Westerlies across the region.

• By Jono Hartland