Damaging gales and heavy rain are possible in parts of New Zealand overnight Friday and across Saturday as a storm in the Tasman Sea crosses the country (around Cook Strait) and starts to weaken. The storm falls apart over the Chatham Islands on Sunday.

Behind it lies a windier south to south west flow which turns more westerly next week.

Meanwhile Australia has more powerful high pressure which will try to reach NZ next week, but likely won’t quite get here.  

The high means colder than usual weather for most of Australia next couple of nights – and another southerly surge for the south eastern states for the start of next week.

Have a great weekend!