A ridge first thing for New Zealand on Thursday then a west to northwesterly airflow increases ahead of a southwest front which moves onto the lower South Island late afternoon. The front moves northwards reaching the lower North Island overnight weakening as it goes.

A mainly sunny start for western parts of the North Island with light winds, chance of a frost first thing about inland areas. Cloud then increases from midday as west to southwesterly winds freshen, chance of a light shower also especially towards evening.

Any morning showers clear along the east coast then becoming sunny in the afternoon with cold southwesterlies dying out.

Mainly sunny for Wellington with west to northwesterly winds picking up in the afternoon, a southerly change moves in overnight bringing some cloud.

Mostly cloudy along the West Coast of the South Island with rain about Fiordland moving into North Westland by evening then easing overnight. Before rain moves in there may be a few showers or drizzle patches. Mostly sunny for Nelson and Marlborough with light winds tending southwest.

Mainly sunny about Canterbury with light northwesterlies from afternoon, some high cloud develops then later in the evening a cool south to southwesterly change pushes in bringing cloud and some drizzle.

Freshening northwesterlies about Southland and Otago with developing high cloud, a southwest change pushes into Southland later afternoon bringing some rain. Rain reaches Otago in the evening then easing later on, clearing overnight. Southwesterlies may be strong about coastal areas as the change moves through.

A frosty start for many inland areas, although Southland may miss out due to northwesterlies kicking off there first thing.

Image: MSLP / rain map for 3:00PM Thursday 15th June – weathermap.co.nz

WeatherWatch.co.nz