A southwesterly airflow lies over the country on Thursday, easing over the South Island then a warm front moves in from the Tasman Sea hitting the West Coast by evening.

Sunny spells for the western North Island on Thursday, the odd shower also especially in the afternoon. Mainly sunny and dry weather in the east.

The odd light shower develops for the South Islands West Coast by midday then turning to rain by evening. High cloud in the east, the odd shower about Southland spreads into parts of Otago during the afternoon. Some scattered rain by evening from Mid Canterbury down through to Otago, perhaps Southland also.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz