A northwesterly airflow strengthens over New Zealand today with a front sliding across the upper North Island during the day, weakening by evening. Another front (this time a cold change) moves onto the lower South Island around midday then slowly moves northwards.

Northland, Auckland, Waikato & Bay Of Plenty
Showers, some may be heavy with the risk of an isolated thunderstorm then easing later this afternoon. Rain moves in overnight, northwesterly winds.
Highs: 17-20

Western North Island (including Central North Island)
Cloudy areas and the odd shower, rain develops overnight. Northwesterly winds strengthen.
Highs: 14-17

Eastern North Island
Mostly sunny with some increasing high cloud, rain develops overnight. Afternoon northwesterly winds.
Highs: 18-20

Wellington
Increasing cloud, the odd shower develops this afternoon then expect overnight rain. Strengthening northwesterly winds rising to gale force later.
High: 16

Marlborough & Nelson
Sunny areas and increasing high cloud, rain develops in the evening. Strengthening north to northwest winds, may rise to gale later in the evening for Marlborough.
Highs: 16

Canterbury
Sunny areas and increasing high cloud, some evening rain as northwesterly winds (strong for inland areas with possible gales) change southwest.
Highs: 15-17

West Coast
Rain with heavy falls and possible thunderstorms, easing to showers in the evening as brisk to strong northwesterly winds change southwest.
Highs: 13-14

Southland & Otago
Morning rain eases to a few showers around midday for Southland as breezy northwesterly winds change gusty westerly. For Otago, mainly dry this morning then around midday rain develops, easing to showers in the afternoon as northwesterly winds (strong about Otago for a time) change gusty westerly. Showers clear by evening for Otago.
Highs: 9-14

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz