A deepening low near Fiordland will today press up against a strong high over northern New Zealand – this will squash up the air pressure and create gusty north to north west winds over central and eastern areas. This means a windy afternoon around Cook Strait and a hot day along the east coast of both islands.

A colder change arrives tonight – and Friday looks significantly colder over the South Island.  Northern New Zealand is under high pressure for all of Thursday, so the settled, calm, weather continues for another day.

Here are the regional forecasts for THURSDAY.

Northland, Auckland, Waikato & Bay Of Plenty
A mix of sun and cloud with light winds / sea breezes. Cloudier near the Tasman. 
Highs: 25 to 27

Western North Island (including Central North Island)
A mix of sun and cloud with westerlies.
Highs: 24 to 26

Eastern North Island
Sunny and hot with west to north west winds building.
Highs: 23 to 29

Wellington
Quite Sunny with nor’westers becoming strong later.
High:  24

Marlborough & Nelson
Fairly sunny and hot with nor’westers. Late clouds thicken in Nelson, maybe a few showers at night.
Highs: 26 – 29

Canterbury
Mostly cloudy, a few spits possible otherwise dry. Hot nor’westers until night time.
Highs: 25 to 30

West Coast
Heavy rain in the south moves north during the day and weakens as it runs into high pressure over the North Island. Cooler SW change after.
Highs: 18 to 22

Southland & Otago
Cloudy with patchy rain or showers – dry spells too. West to north west winds, turning colder southerly by night and becoming dry.
Highs: 16 to 23

(C) – WeatherWatch.co.nz 2016