A large low in the Tasman Sea will slide through the lower South Island but bring more rain to the North Island, especially on Wednesday.

By Thursday a southerly change will be spreading into Southland and Otago while the warmer than average westerlies continue in the north. It will be dry and sunny and warm in eastern areas, especially places like Hawke’s Bay.

On Friday the bulk of this low will be well east of New Zealand and a westerly quarter pattern kicks in – this wind flow strengthens over the weekend and turns southerly on Sunday in the south with temperatures dropping a bit.