The big area of high pressure that has provided much of the country with settled weather this weekend, will continue to do so for the early part of the next week.  In fact, most of the North Island could stay dry all week long.  Parts of the South Island are a bit of different story.

On Monday, a few shower chances will pop up about Northland.  Shower chances will continue for Hawkes Bay and Gisborne.  A few chances for showers will also show up for the deep south.  Otherwise, a dry day is expected for Monday.

Tuesday looks like a dry day across the country as the core of the high starts to move across New Zealand.  A few shower chances for the deep south can’t be ruled out.  However, I think it’s much more likely that even Southland will see dry weather.  Any precipitation that does develop, should hold off until close to sunset.

On Wednesday, precipitation chances start to go up for Southland and Otago.  Dunedin and Invercargill will probably stay dry, but as you head inland there could be some rain or snow showers.  The rest of the country is looking at another dry and settle day.

For Thursday, a frontal boundary starts to work its way up the South Island.  This will bring a good chance for rain to the southern and western sections of the South Island.  The rain may make it to the very southern part of the North Island late Thursday night.  Otherwise the eastern SI and most of the NI are looking settled for Thursday.

On Friday, rain chances look to remain across the South Island.  Even the eastern side of the island could see some rain.  Some heavy rain is possible for the West Coast.  North Island looks to remain dry.

At this point, it looks like that frontal boundary will slide onto the North Island on Saturday.  This will make for a pretty wet start to next weekend for North Islanders.

Homepage image/ Keith Stewart

By WeatherWatch Analyst Howard Joseph