The week ahead is dominated by high pressure, we have a few brushes with low pressure however they are only brief and the areas of low pressure themselves are not very strong. The main exceptions to what is looking like a dry week ahead is the chance of isolated showers popping up late in the afternoons about some inland parts of the North and South Island.

Today things are fairly settled across the whole country, winds will be light with sea breezes for most about coastal areas. Expect areas of cloud morning and night with afternoon sunny spells, there may even be some drizzle morning and night about the east coast of the South Island. Late afternoon and evening a few isolated showers get going, mainly about inland parts of the upper South Island and the ranges of Hawkes Bay and Gisborne. A few of these showers may be heavy before clearing by midnight.

A small area of low pressure does move towards Northland late afternoon so this may bring some patchy rain to a few areas evening onwards then there is the chance of a shower about Auckland overnight.

Tomorrow any early showers about the upper North Island clear then expect mostly sunny weather with light winds tending northeast by midday, winds about the lower North Island tend southeast. Many places will see sunny spells although on the east coast you could wake up to a cloudy start with some drizzle. Isolated showers develop late afternoon and evening about some inland parts of the North Island, this time more so in the west and also the ranges of Gisborne.

The South Island has northeasterlies in the east and light winds in the west, cloudy areas morning and night with sunny spells during the afternoon. There could be some drizzle to start the day on the east coast once again. Late afternoon and evening a few isolated showers may develop about the interior of the island, especially Buller and the Nelson Lakes region.

Wednesday sees mainly settled weather across the North Island, light winds and afternoon sea breezes for coastal areas. Isolated showers may develop once again late afternoon about some inland areas. The South Island is a little more cloud free this time, winds still easterly in the east with light winds in the west.

A front moves onto the lower South Island on Thursday however it only brings a few showers with some rain about Fiordland, the east coast Canterbury northwards has a good day with light winds and warm temperatures. In the west expect cloudy areas. For the North Island winds are from the easterly quarter in the north and east bringing cloudy areas although it should be mainly dry. Westerlies in the west bring some cloud from Wellington through to Taranaki, Wellington should see gusty northerlies.

Finally on Friday, a new high pressure system looks to move towards the South Island from the Tasman Sea however the departing front from the day before about the lower South Island brings cloudy skies and some drizzle to the east coast. Western areas are likely to gradually brighten up during the day as the flow tend southeast.

In the north a depression moves in from the tropics to sit just off the northeastern coastline of the North Island. While it would be great if it moved a bit closer to bring some much needed rain the bulk of it may stay offshore. Expect cloudy areas in the east and north of the Island, eastern Northland and Gisborne may be the likeliest of candidates to pick up some rain from this low however this could change. Keep an eye on the videos from Philip Duncan during this week to see how this low pressure system unfolds.

Homepage image / Chris Johnson

WeatherWatch.co.nz