A large high sits out to the east of New Zealand today, a north to northeasterly airflow flows around this high and over the North and South Islands.

Northland may see an isolated shower this afternoon, mainly in the west then clearing this evening. The Bay Of Plenty could see a light shower or two this morning then clearing. Waikato especially in the west / south may see heavy isolated showers develop this afternoon, perhaps even thunderstorms then clearing later on.

For the lower North Island there may be an isolated shower or two about this morning otherwise mainly dry, it’s this afternoon showers develop about inland hills and ranges. Showers this afternoon could become heavy with thunderstorms then clearing later on this evening.

For Tasman and Nelson a band of heavy rain eases this morning to patchy showers. Marlborough sees some early rain clear then mainly dry. Canterbury may see a morning drizzle patch then mainly dry. For the West Coast expect patchy showers or drizzle for much of today, dry spells at times too.

Moving into the lower South Island conditions are mainly dry, just the low risk of a coastal drizzle patchy for Otago this morning.

Image – Saturday 13th January 2018 1pm MSLP / Rain map – weathermap.co.nz

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