A large area of high pressure is rolling in across New Zealand today, with a slightly cool southerly to begin with for some coastal, eastern, areas of the South Island.

However by Wednesday high pressure will smother New Zealand with mostly sunny, mainly dry weather.

Into Thursday and Friday and we start to see a few downpours popping up in the ranges around Otago and maybe South Canterbury.

Some could be heavy with isolated thunder. Into the weekend – and next week – and high pressure continues around New Zealand with daytime heating producing some afternoon downpours.