A west to northwest airflow lies over New Zealand today, gradually strengthening. A cold front hits the lower South Island overnight. This cold front pushes northwards over New Zealand during Saturday, northwesterlies ahead of the front then changing colder southwest in behind.

Some cloud for the western North Island today, risk of a shower for Northland and Auckland. Mainly sunny for eastern regions. The West Coast of the South Island is fairly cloudy with a few showers, rain moves into South Westland during the afternoon then becomes heavy. Warm and dry in the east with developing high cloud.

Cloudy areas and the odd shower for the western North Island on Saturday, rain moves into the lower western North Island from afternoon then further north later in the evening. Mostly sunny in the east, rain moves into Wellington / Wairarapa in the afternoon then further north in the evening. Heavy rain for the West Coast of the South Island clears in the afternoon. Early rain eases to showers about Southland / Otago, a few snow flurries may make it down to 200m before clearing in the evening. Morning rain develops for Canterbury, easing to showers by midday then clearing at night, some snow down to 300m before clearing. Nelson and Marlborough has a period of afternoon rain, clearing in the evening.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz