Upper North Island

Mostly cloudy skies with northeasterly winds. Patchy showers or rain for most, areas of precipitation may hold off a little about the Waikato till afternoon. Expect many dry areas in the mix also.

Lower North Island

Plenty of high cloud in the east, mainly dry though with northerlies. Mid to late afternoon some rain starts to move into the Wairarapa then a few spots move further north overnight. Fairly cloudy in the west and for Wellington with northerly winds, the odd spot of rain or drizzle patch at times, rain may pick up a little in the evening then overnight becoming more persistent as a front closes in. Heavy falls possible about Taranaki and the Manawatu overnight, Wellington could see a heavy fall for a time in the evening, mainly in the west of the region.

Upper South Island

Mostly cloudy on the West Coast with northwesterly winds, the odd shower or two. For Buller some morning rain eases to a few showers. About Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough expect north to northwesterly winds, the odd shower turns to rain by late morning and could become heavy during the afternoon and evening as a slow moving front lies over the area. Rain then clears away overnight. About Canterbury any early morning spots of rain clear then mostly sunny, northwesterlies inland with light northeasterlies near the coast.

Lower South Island

Spells of rain or showers for South Westland and Fiordland with north to northeasterly winds, morning cloud about Southland and Otago with any spells of rain clearing then sunny areas develop. Afternoon and evening however isolated showers develop possibly heavy with thunderstorms then clearing later on.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz