Blustery, warm, winds continue to move up the South Island and into the lower North Island today as a front slowly moves up from the south.

Rain, heavy at times, will today very slowly move northwards up the South Island’s West Coast. A few spits are expected to spill over into the east too.

Ahead of the rain blows strong winds through central New Zealand which will build this afternoon across the lower North Island.

The winds mark what WeatherWatch.co.nz yesterday said will be a windy month ahead with numerous lows crossing over, or passing near, New Zealand while highs remain mostly north of the country.  This northern placement limits calmer conditions for New Zealand and can actually fuel the westerlies even more as lows push up against them.

But a high centred over Northland and just to the north of New Zealand today means winds will be mostly light across Northland, Auckland and other upper North Island regions for the next 24 hours at least – however breezy coastal winds may move develop in the afternoon.

– Homepage image / File, Greg Taylor

– WeatherWatch.co.nz