A strong westerly quarter airflow lies over the country today while a front moves northwards over both islands. Cold air moves onto the lower South Island today bringing low level snow later on.

Northland, Auckland, Waikato & Bay Of Plenty

Mostly cloudy with breezy westerly winds, winds becoming gusty to strong late afternoon / evening. The odd shower about mainly late afternoon and evening.

Highs: 15-17

Western North Island (including Central North Island)

Mostly cloudy with brisk westerly winds, strong about from afternoon in the west. Showers, more likely from afternoon then clearing around midnight.

Highs: 12-15

Eastern North Island

Sunny areas and some high cloud, northwesterly winds becoming strong in the afternoon especially about the Wairarapa where winds may gust to gale at times. Winds change southwest in the evening with some cloud and the risk of a shower.

Highs: 16-18

Wellington

Cloudy areas with strong northwesterly winds, gusting to gale at times. Winds change southerly in the evening with a period of showers.

High: 14

Marlborough & Nelson

High cloud with northwesterly winds, becoming strong during the morning. A few areas of rain spread into Nelson during the afternoon and possibly Marlborough, winds change southwest in the evening with cloud breaking away.

Highs: 14-16

Canterbury

High cloud and northwesterly winds, strong at times especially inland with gales possible. An early to mid afternoon southwest change brings a few showers some of which could be heavy with hail then mostly clearing in the evening. There may be some brief snow to 500 or perhaps 400m for a time as these showers ease late afternoon but by then amounts of precipitation are fairly low. Overnight a few flurries lower to 300m on Banks Peninsula.

High: 17

West Coast

Rain, easing to showers in the afternoon then clearing by evening. Some snow likely about the Fiordland Mountains. Northwesterlies change gusty southwest in the afternoon.

High: 12-13

Southland & Otago

Morning rain eases to wintry showers. Snow to 700m first thing then dropping to low levels (possibly sea level for Southland and the Catlins area) later in the evening. Expect small hail at times and a risk of thunderstorms too. Strong westerly winds gusting to gale at times in coastal areas then tending southwest late afternoon

Highs: 8-11

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz