The South Island is where it’s all set to happen on Thursday – as a southwesterly airflow moves onto the lower part of the island through the day – and the weather moves north.

Southland and Otago are looking unsettled, as windy, wet conditions look to set in by afternoon.
The West Coast is set up for some heavy rain – as usual – while temperatures in Canterbury look set to rise as northwest winds blow through.

The central and lower North Island will see effects of this change set in by evening, as winds build from the northwest initially, while the rest of the North Island enjoys the last of the high pressure system sitting over the country.

– Philip Duncan & Drew Chappell, WeatherWatch.co.nz