Here’s what is making the weather headlines today….

SHOWERS IN THE WEST AND SOUTH

A west to southwesterly airflow lies over the country today, showers can be expected for western regions (some rain for the West Coast). Also expect rain or showers for Southland and southern parts of Otago.

Eastern regions are drier and sunnier after any early morning spits or showers clear. Some cloud may move up into Canterbury this afternoon with southwesterlies but staying dry.

It will be warmest today for Hawkes Bay / Gisborne and north of Waikato.

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RAIN OUTLOOK

Our weather over the next seven days is going to come from the west, it makes sense therefore that most of our rain will be in the west, the West Coast of the South Island more specifically. Southland catches reasonable rain this week also.

The precipitation percentage of normal map below runs through to Monday 18th September. Blue coloring means that part of the country is likely to see more rainfall than would normally be expected at this time of year, red means less rainfall is expected and white is an average amount of rainfall. The more intense either red or blue then either scenario is more true.

FRONT ON THURSDAY

A strong northwesterly airflow develop on Thursday (more so for the South Island) ahead of a cold front that moves onto the far south in the afternoon, reaching the upper South Island around midnight then moving over the North Island during Friday.

Northwesterlies east of the Main Divide (South Island) for inland areas will likely be strong on Thursday afternoon before the front moves through, winds watches or warnings may be issued by Metservice. Heavy rain looks likely for the West Coast.

Eastern regions look to stay mainly dry till Saturday when southwesterlies push some in. The main front mentioned above moves over the North Island on Friday but it will have weakened a little compared to what it was further south, rain is still likely in the west but not as heavy as it was for the West Coast on Thursday.

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