A cooler southerly flow dominates New Zealand today bringing showers into central NZ, mostly on the eastern side (from Christchurch to Gisborne or Northern Hawke’s Bay.

Rainfall totals are lower, generally, than yesterday.

Showers clear as the day wears on, with mostly dry weather by this evening nationwide.

This is due to high pressure expanding across the nation from the west.

The southerly flow favours the West Coast with mostly sunny weather and above normal temperatures this afternoon.

Following the cooler southerly and lighter winds and clearer skies tonight, most of the North Island leans cooler than average tonight. In Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa both today and tonight will be colder than average, thanks to the southerly.

Here are the regional forecasts for Thursday – As always please refer to your HOURLY forecasts to make sense of this locally…

Northland, Auckland, Waikato & Bay Of Plenty
A cool start for areas inland. South to south west winds and mostly sunny – or a mix of sun and cloud.
Highs: 17 – 21

Western North Island (including Central North Island)
Southerly quarter winds and a couple showers, otherwise dry with a mix of sun and cloud.
Highs: 14 – 18

Eastern North Island
A cooler day with a mix of sun and cloud. May be a couple showers around Wairarapa. Brisk southerlies.
Highs: 15 – 17

Wellington
Brisk southerlies continue with a few showers. Becoming dry later.
High: 14 – 16

Marlborough & Nelson
Showers with easterly quarter breezes – although Southerlies brisk around Cook Strait. Dry later.
Highs: 16 – 20

Canterbury
A cool start with southerlies and a mix of sun and cloud. Mainly dry but a few showers possible in the northern half of the region.
Highs: 14-19

West Coast
Partly cloudy with nor’westers near the coast and light winds inland.
Highs: 17 – 20

Southland & Otago
A little milder. Partly cloudy with west to south west winds.
Highs: 13-22

THE MAPS: