A northwesterly airflow lies over the country on Wednesday. A front within this flow pushes northwards over the South Island during the day and another moves over Northland bringing unstable conditions.

A mix of sun and cloud for the upper / western North Island on Wednesday, risk of a shower. Showers becoming heavy in the afternoon north of Auckland with possible thunderstorms then easing later in the evening. Mainly sunny along the east coast with a touch of high cloud.

Heavy rain for the West Coast of the South Island, north of about Greymouth rain may not become heavy till late afternoon or evening. Mainly dry in the east with some high cloud, there may be a few spots of rain. Rain about the Canterbury high country and all inland areas see rain for a time with heavy falls the closer you get to the main divide. Southland and inland Otago will likely see a period of rain in the afternoon, also coastal Otago but to a lesser extent.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz