Farmers from Northland down to the Manawatu may finally get some good rain however lets just hope it’s not too much in one hit. Too much of a good thing can sometimes not work out…. but we’ll have to roll with what nature deals us.

For today’s weather check out this mornings forecast here.

Tomorrow a low sits off the West Coast of the South Island in the Tasman Sea while a high lies out east centred over the Chatams, this drags a northeasterly airflow over the country. Over the North Island, Auckland northwards sees patchy rain or drizzle, any early drizzle about the east coast clears then sunny spells
increase. Elsewhere there may be some brief morning light rain or drizzle then
clearing, skies remaining mostly cloudy.

About the South Island expect rain on the West Coast with heavy falls, especially north of Haast. Expect rain
for the top of the South Island with heavy rain moving in during the afternoon,
Canterbury sees cloudy skies with spits of rain at times. Otago has the odd
morning shower clear then overnight southerly quarter winds develop with
showers. Southland sees patchy rain or drizzle for much of the day with
southerlies gradually moving in.

On Wednesday the situation still has a low out to the west of the country with a high in the east, what starts to
complicate things is ex tropical cyclone Ita moves southwards later in the day
approaching the north of the North Island. Most in the North Island are looking
cloudy with northeasterly winds, patchy rain or drizzle with heavy falls about
the southwestern corner of the island. Heavy rain moves into Northland in the
evening, easterly quarter winds strengthen over the whole island
overnight.

The South Island has an increasing southeasterly airflow with periods of rain for most, the most persistent rain looks to be about inland Canterbury. Southland and Fiordland may remain dry with cloudy skies.

Thursday could be a wild one, what looks like ex tropical cyclone Ita will
sit just off the west coast of the North Island. Winds will be strong to gale
force from the easterly quarter for many, the hardest hit areas wind wise may be
from Wellington through to Taranaki along the southwestern corner of the North
Island. Rain about the upper North Island moves southwards during the day to lie
across the lower North Island in the evening, heavy falls look likely for many
though this will depend on the exact movement of the frontal system on the
day.

For the South Island southeasterly winds strengthen for most during
the day, gales will likely affect the top half of the South Island from evening
especially in the west. Expect cloudy skies for all with rain north of Westport
in the west, about the top of the South Island and down along the east coast
through Canterbury. Rain becomes heavy about the top of the South Island in the
evening. Otago is dry at first with rain moving in from afternoon, rain moves
southwards along the West Coast down to Haast in the evening. Southland and
Fiordland remain dry for much of the day once again.

Finally on Friday conditions ease for most, ex tropical cyclone Ita moves southwards to lie west
of the South Island. The North Island sees sunny spells and isolated showers for
many, especially in the afternoon where there could be a heavy fall or two. On
the east coast the weather may come out mostly sunny after morning rain clears.
The South Island stays cloudy with heavy rain north of Westport in the west,
about the top of the South Island and down through to Canterbury easing in the
morning. Coastal Otago sees rain for much of the day while inland areas are more
patchy. Once again, Southland and Otago remain dry with high cloud.

Story images: Ex Tropical Cyclone Ita west of the North Island, Thursday 17th April 2014 midday MSLP / Rain map – weathermap.co.nz