The complicated and messy forecast for many parts of New Zealand continues as two low pressure systems produce two different weather set ups for the country.

In the South Island a low out east near the Chatham Islands will move closer to Canterbury and eastern areas of the Mainland on Friday. This will produce showers, drizzle, low cloud and some patchy rain (especially inland and north). This low to the east will push a southerly flow into the South Island and it will become colder.

Dunedin has a high of 9 tomorrow and Christchurch has a high of only 8 by Saturday. Wellington has highs of 11 tomorrow and through the weekend due to this cooler airflow, on the edge of the South Island’s cooler weather.

This means snow showers are possible down to a few hundred metres on the eastern South Island ranges next day or two – but not huge amounts.

However in the North Island is warmer thanks to the other low pressure system out in the Tasman Sea. This low will continue to encourage a much warmer NW airflow for northerners. Main centres like Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Whangarei are likely to reach the late teens with sub-tropical light nor’westers over the next day or two.

As this Tasman Sea low moves in over Saturday and the weekend there will be a mix of downpours, patchy rain, drizzle and dry. Large dry areas will extend further on Sunday over the North Island too – but so too will a cooler change from the South Island as this low crosses the North Island during Sunday.

– Image / 6pm Friday

– WeatherWatch.co.nz