Very strong northwesterly winds develop over the South Island and lower North Island today, expect gales on the east coast of the South Island from afternoon and about Cook Strait. Severe gales are possible about inland Canterbury and overnight in Cook Strait. Rain on the West Coast of the South Island becomes heavy by midday with torrential falls possible. The upper North Island will see increasing cloud during the day with northwest winds.

Auckland & Northland
A few early sunny areas then becoming mostly cloudy by midday with westerly winds tending northwest. Northwesterlies a little breezy at times.
Highs: 16-17

Bay Of Plenty, Waikato & Central North Island
Sunny spells with westerly winds, some cloud increases from afternoon as winds tend more northwest. The odd evening shower develops about the Central North Island and Waikato.
Highs: 13-17

Eastern North Island
Sunny and warm with high cloud increasing during the day. Light winds at first in the morning for Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne, northwesterlies pick up in the afternoon becoming gusty by evening. Wairarapa sees strong gusty northwesterlies from afternoon.
Highs: 17-19

Western North Island
Cloud increases in the morning. The odd shower about northern Taranaki and Kapiti then becoming a little more widespread from afternoon but expect long dry spells too. Overnight rain sets in. Northwesterlies strengthen during the day becoming strong and gusty at night.
Highs: 15

Wellington
Becoming mostly cloudy in the morning with northwesterly winds becoming strong. Winds strengthening to gale force in the afternoon and may even reach severe gale overnight. A few spots of rain possible at times, mainly overnight.
Highs: 14-15

Nelson
Skies becoming cloudy in the morning with northwesterlies. Winds becoming strong and gusty from afternoon at which point a few spits of rain develop. More persistent rain moves in overnight.
High: 15

Marlborough
A few early sunny areas however expect high cloud to thicken up by midday. Gusty northwesterlies strengthening to gale force winds from late afternoon. A few spots of rain may spread from the west overnight.
High: 17

Canterbury
High cloud thickens up from morning with northerly winds, northerlies becoming strong and gusty around midday gusting to gale force at times especially inland. Some rain develops in the evening about the foothills and may spread to the coast for a time. From late afternoon exposed inland areas may receive sustained gale force winds.
High: 17

West Coast
Rain develops during the morning becoming heavy and torrential by midday, strong gusty north to northwesterly winds. Thunderstorms are also likely from afternoon.
High: 14

Coastal Otago
Thick high cloud from morning with increasing northerly winds becoming strong in the afternoon. Late afternoon winds gust to gale force at times then ease overnight. Some brief rain moves through in the evening.
Highs: 17-18

Central Otago
Cloudy with northerly winds becoming strong by late morning, winds may gust to gale force at times. Rain develops late morning and could become heavy and thundery for a time in the afternoon then easing in the evening as winds tend more northwest.
Highs: 13-14

Southland
Thick high cloud with northerly winds strengthening, rain develops early afternoon then clears in the evening as strong northerlies tend more northwest. Winds may gust to gale force at times.
Highs: 14-15

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz