A northwesterly airflow lies over the country today. A front within this flow pushes northwards over the South Island during the day and another may slide over Northland bringing unstable conditions. Northwesterlies conintue over New Zealand on Thursday.

Mostly sunny for the upper / western North Island today. Showers develop this afternoon, some may become heavy with thunderstorms in the northeast then clearing later on. Mainly sunny along the east coast with a touch of high cloud. Heavy rain for the West Coast of the South Island with thunderstorms at times for South Westland, 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.

Mostly sunny for the upper / eastern North Island on Thursday, some cloud and a few showers in the southwest. Rain or showers for the West Coast of the South Island, possibly heavy at times for South Westland. Mainly dry with some sun / high cloud in the east. Showers at times spread into Southland.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz