A cold front will be the focus for showers, and maybe even a few thunderstorms, as it moves across the country.

The precipitation will be confined to the South Island and the far southern tip of the North Island during the morning hours.

Some parts of the SI, like Otago, could get away with seeing very little, if any, precipitation today.  But most areas should see rain this morning and this afternoon.  By this evening, the southern half of the island should be dry.  The northern half will likely continue to see periods of precipitation lasting into the early morning hours of Thursday.

For the North Island, the precipitation that moves into the far southern sections this morning will work its way north for this afternoon and tonight.  Rain, along with possible heavy falls, is expected across much of the island by evening.  Some thunder is also possible, especially about Taranaki.  However thunderstorms are also possible about Waikato and Bay of Plenty although the risk is not as high.

Afternoon highs today should be generally in the upper teens to lower 20’s.  However, temperatures may struggle to reach 15 about the coastal sections of Southland and Otago.

By WeatherWatch Analyst Howard Joseph