As a northwesterly airflow takes hold over New Zealand tonight most places see above average temperatures, just the remnants of a ridge of high pressure clings to the upper North Island bringing colder than average overnight lows as shown by the blue shaded areas below.

Tonight’s coldest overnight lows will likely be about inland parts of the eastern North Island, Waikato and about some parts of the Mackenzie Country getting down to between 1 and 3 degrees. The warmest overnight lows are about Wellington and Westport.

Warmer than average for most regions on Saturday, this is especially true for eastern parts. Temperatures in the high teens likely from Canterbury up through to Gisborne, perhaps even getting into the early twenties in some spots. The coldest temperatures, Fiordland on 11 to 12 degrees.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz