Our large high pressure system that’s been with New Zealand for nearly a week now is today being slowly bulldozed east of the country as heavy downpours, isolated thunderstorms and brisk northerlies move slowly across the country.

The high will ensure a mostly dry day in many areas – but the downpours later are heavy with possible thunder.

Upper North Island:
Dry or mainly dry at first with NE winds picking up and becoming a bit blustery later on. Light showers here and there. Rain develops in Northland in the afternoon with thunderstorms and this tracks towards Auckland/Coromandel/Waikato towards evening and overnight.
Highs: 15 to 18

Lower North Island:
Dry or mainly dry across the day with north to north east winds picking up. Rain at night with some heavy isolated downpours with thunder possible.
Highs: 14 to 20

Upper South Island:
A dry day with north to north east winds pick up. Clouds thicken on the West Coast and around Nelson. Rain develops overnight. 
Highs: 14 to 18

Lower South Island:
Mostly dry and quite cloudy. Rain at times around Fiordland and South Westland may spillover to parts of Otago and Southland otherwise a mainly dry day. Showers overnight.
Highs: 12 to 18

– WeatherWatch.co.nz