A strong south west change sweeps across many parts of New Zealand today – which means more rain, showers, wind and colder air.  Sunny spells in the mix too though!

Upper North Island
Increasing cloud with north to northwesterly winds, showers from around midday possibly heavy with thunderstorms. Winds change round to the southwest in the afternoon. Showers mostly clearing by evening although the odd shower may remain for some, especially in the west.

Lower North Island
Rain this morning about Taranaki and the Central North Island with light winds, clearing in the afternoon as winds tend southwest, a few sunny spells then break though. In the evening northwesterlies freshen with increasing cloud. Cool southerlies about Wanganui southwards brings some cloud and a few showers this morning then clearing by midday, PM sunny spells. The evening sees freshening northwesterlies however and increasing cloud. Southwesterlies along the east coast with some increasing cloud this morning, the odd shower around late morning for most then clearing early afternoon about the Wairarapa and most of Hawkes Bay. The Northern Hawkes Bay ranges and Gisborne could see heavy showers for a time in the afternoon then clearing by evening.

Upper South Island
Morning rain or showers with snow flurries to 600m clears along the east coast with sunny spells increasing in the afternoon, cool southwesterlies ease. Overnight strong southwesterlies push in bringing further showers, possible heavy near the coast with hail. A sunny start in the west however cloud increases from around midday as winds tend more westerly, a few showers start to creep in during the afternoon then expect evening rain.

Lower South Island
Westerly winds with sunny spells in the east, chance of a shower or two about the Catlins and coastal Southland. Around midday southwesterlies develop about Southland bringing a few showers which push into Otago late afternoon. Later in the evening showers becoming heavier with a risk of hail, some snow lowering to 300m overnight about Southland and 400m for Otago. Southwesterlies strengthen later in the evening gusting to gale about coastal areas. Sunny at first on the West Coast south of Haast, westerlies freshen by midday with increasing cloud and showers moving in during the afternoon. Some evening rain then clearing overnight as southerlies push in.

– Forecast by weather analyst Aaron Wilkinson

– WeatherWatch.co.nz