Today sees blustery southwesterlies cover New Zealand. Easing on Thursday as a ridge of high pressure moves in then another front moves through on Friday with northwest winds preceding it then changing gusty southwest in behind.

Wednesday

Purple – Brisk to strong southwesterlies for many coastal parts of New Zealand today. Brisk to strong southerlies move into Wellington and Wairarapa during the afternoon.

As a band of rain moves through there may be some heavy rain for a time about Canterbury this morning (there has even been a thunderstorm over Christchurch earlier this morning) then moving northwards reaching the lower North Island this afternoon. This rain is on the move fairly promptly so any heavy rain should ease to showers relatively quickly.

Thursday

Blue – There may be a light frost about the inner South Island on Thursday morning.

Friday

Blustery northwest winds develop ahead of a front on Friday, especially through Cook Strait where winds may gust to gale force. Winds about the inner South Island while strong may not get as fast, winds ease in the evening. Some rain (possibly heavy) about coastal Southland and the West Coast eases midday onwards.

– Please note, the idea behind this update is to focus on the main weather highlights, which is why not all regions are mentioned. 

For specific 10 day information for your city, town, rural community or island please see the 1500 forecasts on our homepage!

– Aaron Wilkinson, WeatherWatch.co.nz