Here’s what is making the weather headlines today.

THUNDER RISK INCREASES TODAY

Canterbury has a risk of thunderstorms this afternoon thanks to southerlies pushing through and at the same time there is a cold pool of air in the upper atmosphere, this should lead to some instability. Temperatures will be around -27 to -28 degrees at 500hpa (5450m). Late afternoon or evening Marlborough could even see a few heavy showers.

A risk exists in the hills behind Hawkes Bay and Gisborne too.

Any thunderstorms bring a chance of hail today too. More on today’s risk from Metservice here.

WARMEST TEMPERATURES – NORTH ISLAND

Today’s warmest temperatures will be about Hawkes Bay and Gisborne then Bay Of Plenty through to Northland in the northeast. High’s should reach into the late teens early early twenties.

Canterbury up through to Nelson in the east getting into the mid to late teens before southerlies kick in and cool things down.

FROST SATURDAY MORNING

A high pressure system moves in at the end of this week, clear skies and light winds on Saturday morning mean frosts.

There is actually the chance by dawn on Friday just as the high is starting to move in that some inland parts of the South Island could have a frosty start, more on that in the coming days.