UPDATED 8:27am — This summer hasn’t been the best so far but the week ahead is showing strong signs of improvement and while it isn’t perfect – with a weak front or two on Thursday and Friday – many places will see more sun, less wind and higher temperatures.

Monday sees an anticyclone in the Tasman Sea moving closer and closer to New Zealand during the day, for the South Island any early showers clear and sunny spells increase during the day for all with winds from the
southerly quarter. Nelson may see afternoon northerly breezes. 

For the North Island rain clears Gisborne and East Cape this morning. Out west mostly sunny weather can be expected although high
cloud takes a while to clear from Northland through to Bay Of Plenty, breaking
up later in the day or overnight.

Tuesday sees a ridge cover much of New Zealand bringing mainly settled and sunny weather, afternoon sea breezes for most. The East Coast of the North Island will still have areas of cloud in an
easing southerly airflow, cloud may also catch Northland in the west with
southerlies there.

The weather looks great on Wednesday for much of the North Island, light winds and sea breezes with mostly sunny weather for all. Northerlies build about Wellington though. For the South Island conditions warm
up in the east as a northwesterly airflow builds, temperatures may be a little
cool right on the coast till later in the day with easterlies tending northwest
there in the evening. Cloudy on the West Coast with drizzle, high cloud builds
about Southland and Otago. A southerly change about Southland at night brings
some rain.

The South Island gets shrouded in cloud and drizzle for much of Thursday with southerlies in the east and southwesterlies in the west. Nelson may stay largely sunny however till later in the day or overnight. About the
North Island expect areas of cloud in the west with west to southwest breezes,
mostly sunny in the east with sea breezes. The Bay Of Plenty looks to be the
pick of the bunch with warm temperatures likely and westerly
winds.

Friday sees drizzle spread to the North Island’s east coast, mostly sunny develops in the west with southeasterly winds. The South Island sees fairly cloudy skies to start however sunny spells gradually break through
for most with afternoon sea breezes. The West Coast remains fairly cloudy with
light winds, drizzle patches still possible but long dry spells likely too.

Homepage image / Allen Pidwell

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz