A low that is expected to develop over Tasmania later this week will be our next big rainmaker.

That may sound downright evil to folks like me on the North Island.

However, it’s likely to be viewed as miracle by folks in the deep south.

The low is expected to trek across the Tasman Sea on Wednesday.  Rain and a few showers should develop across much of the South Island during the afternoon on Wednesday.  The coverage of this stuff is not likely to be real great, so not everyone will get wet.

That should change on Thursday.

Heavy rain is expected to spread across Southland and Otago during the afternoon on Thursday.  As the low starts to push on shore over Fiordland National Park late Thursday night, heaviest rain should begin to move north and cover most of the South Island.

By Saturday, the low should move out over the Pacific and the rain will come to an end across the South Island with the exception of a few hit and miss showers.

A weak front left in the wake of that low may spread some rain across the deep south late Saturday into Sunday, but chances are pretty small.

As far as the North Island goes, rain will likely spread over the island late Thursday into the pre-dawn hours of Friday.  This should turn into some scattered activity during the day on Friday.

Saturday and most of Sunday are looking pretty good right now for us soggy North Islanders.

– Story by weather analyst Howard Jospeh

Photo/ Alison Metherell