A “squash zone” is a mostly straight line of windy, cloudy, and sometimes wet weather between a high pressure zone and a low pressure zone. Generally it’s on one side of the low only, and with low pressure in the Tasman Sea and high pressure south-east of NZ this places the squash zone right across the country. The low has weakened a little this week and in the days ahead – this reduces the overall intensity of this particular squash zone, but it will still be windy in some places over the next day or two.

Windy weather will be from the north-east for exposed areas, with strongest winds in marine and alpine areas. Most populated places shouldn’t be too exposed but keep up to date with your local wind forecasts as the set-up shifts a little across the day. Of the main centres, Auckland can expect blustery easterlies later today in some exposed places, with gales possible in marine areas.

Coldest weather will be coming in from the east, off the Southern Ocean and merging with the nor’east flow along the eastern South Island.

Wettest weather will be the Far North, Northland and the eastern North Island. Showers and drizzly patches are possible elsewhere, including the eastern South Island but many other places are dry.

🛰️#Wednesday: Forecast Satellite imagery shows low pressure still west of NZ, high pressure now south east of the country & rain/showers along the eastern Tasman Sea clipping the Far North & parts of Northland.

☁️☁️And there's more of that thick cloud we've all grown to love… pic.twitter.com/fAOBXIQRiX

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) June 18, 2024

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