A cold southwesterly airflow lies over most of the country today although the air flow for the upper North Island remains northwesterly. A front and low moves over the North Island bringing heavy showers this afternoon especially in the west. Wintry showers for the far south of the South Island gradually sneak up the east coast in the afternoon and evening.

Northland, Auckland, Waikato & Bay Of Plenty

Occasional showers, possibly heavy in the afternoon. Chance of a thunderstorm for Northland and Auckland with heavy showers. Northwesterly winds.

High: 14-17

Western North Island (including Central North Island)

Occasional showers becoming heavy in the afternoon with hail as northwesterly winds swing around to the southerly quarter.

Highs: 10-12

Eastern North Island

Showers about the Wairarapa moving into the Hawkes Bay late afternoon then into Gisborne during the evening as southwesterlies pick up, expect some sun before showers move in. Showers may contain hail later in the day, snow flurries lower to 300m overnight about the Wairarapa and 500m further north.

Highs: 11-15

Wellington
Cloudy with showers from afternoon, a chance of hail. A few snow flurries to 500m lowering to 300m later in the evening. Southerlies pick up by midday.

Highs: 10

Marlborough & Nelson

Mostly cloudy with light winds tending southerly during the morning, a few showers from late morning. Showers build in intensity about Marlborough during the afternoon then clear later in the evening. Some snow to 300m with evening showers.

High: 10

Canterbury

Mostly sunny with southwesterly winds, about North Canterbury there is the low risk of an isolated shower from afternoon otherwise dry. Later in the evening wintry showers push into coastal areas especially Banks Peninsula with low level snow flurries, possibly lowering to sea level overnight. These showers will be quite coastal so even Christchurch could miss out, it’s very borderline.

Highs: 8-9

West Coast

Some morning cloud and the chance of a shower or two then becoming mostly sunny in the afternoon, southeasterly winds.

Highs: 7-8

Southland & Otago

Mostly cloudy with the odd wintry shower, a few snow flurries to near sea level. Morning sun for Otago then wintry showers and snow flurries to low levels move in late afternoon. Cold southwesterly winds.

Highs: 3-5

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz