Heavy rain over northern New Zealand has eased this morning with just a few showers remaining over Northland.  A very weak front is also brushing the Otago coast but in between big blue skies cover the country – and there are a number of similar days on the way. 

“By the end of today a large ridge of high pressure will cover all of New Zealand.  This means mainly clear skies, inland frosts and a few fog patches in the usual spots” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.  “Easterlies breezes over northern New Zealand, roughly from Auckland and Coromandel northwards will keep overnight lows a little higher than other parts of the country but they may also drag in some cloud and perhaps a small isolated shower or two”.

But New Zealand’s next weather event will be coming from a large depression in the Southern Ocean in a few days time.  “By the weekend heavy rain will be falling in the hydro lakes catchment areas with strong winds over the South Island and Wellington.  By early next week a cold southerly will move up the country bringing snow as low as Queenstown and further north to Waiouru by mid next week”.

Duncan says the system is definitely one to keep an eye on.