Here’s what is making the weather headlines today.

WARM IN THE WEST AND SOUTH

Cloud and a few showers bring cool temperatures to eastern regions today, highs in the mid teens for the eastern South Island and in the late teens for the eastern North Island.

Western regions and about the far south being sheltered from an east to southeasterly airflow will naturally be warmer, highs will be in the early to mid twenties. While the upper North Island is warm there will likely be a few showers about with rain moving into Northland around midnight.

RAIN BECOMING HEAVY IN THE NORTH OVERNIGHT

An easterly airflow sees rain move into Northland overnight then become heavy. On Friday rain spreads over much of the North Island with heavy rain possible mainly in the east, about Great Barrier Island, Coromandel, Bay Of Plenty, East Cape, Gisborne then eventually Hawkes Bay.

UNSTABLE FALLS AFTER RAIN MOVES THROUGH SAT / SUN

Early Saturday (overnight Friday) isolated showers about the upper North Island may be heavy with some thunder. As Saturday morning dawns showers about much of the North Island Waikato southwards start to become heavy, especially into the afternoon with thunderstorms likely then easing evening. The upper South Island sees some instability on Saturday afternoon also but not as unstable as further north.

Sunday holds the chance of a few isolated heavy showers in the afternoon but the risk reduces quite a bit compared to Saturday. Canterbury especially South Canterbury holds the higher chance of a thunderstorm if one occurs. More general rain or showers starts spreading in over the lower South Island from afternoon as a front moves in from the south.

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