Rain may be heavy this morning for the upper North Island, easing from the west midday onwards as northerlies change southwest. Rain not easing about Bay Of Plenty (especially in the east) till evening. The east coast sees some rain also, heavy falls are not likely, this will ease and clear away during the afternoon and evening as a front gradually pushes off to the northeast.

Drier for the South Island today, there could be a rogue isolated shower north of about Greymouth in the west and across into North Canterbury northwards during the afternoon. A cold front approaching the lower South Island brings rain to Fiordland by evening then Southland / Otago overnight.

On Wednesday, the aforementioned cold front moves northwards during the day over the country. Morning rain for the West Coast of the South Island clears away, expect showers in the east although conditions may be dry to start first thing about Canterbury through to Nelson before showers move in. Showers clear the lower South Island in the evening and then skies clear up, frosts will be a concern for the lower South Island overnight and into Thursday morning especially about inland areas.

Showers move into the lower North Island during the afternoon as southerlies push northwards. Expect some rain for Hawkes Bay and Gisborne later in the evening / overnight.

Mainly dry for the South Island on Thursday apart from morning showers in the east Canterbury northwards clearing away. The North Island sees morning rain in the east (more so about Hawkes Bay / Gisborne) easing to showers in the afternoon. Showers about Bay Of Plenty spread into Coromandel, Great Barrier Island, northern Auckland and Northland during the afternoon in a southeasterly airflow.

For rainfall accumulation maps for 1, 2 and 3 days out please visit our new maps page: https://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/maps-radars/rain/accumulative-rainfall

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz