The South Island is set to see cooler conditions over the lower half today as a front delivers a cool southerly wind change with clearing skies in the west but cloud and showers for southern and some eastern districts.

The front is expected to weaken and break up as it heads over the northern part of the Mainland by tonight and then eventually cross the Strait.

Showers associated with this front are also expected to become scattered on its trek over North Canterbury, Kaikoura and Marlborough.

North Islanders are likely to see a mainly dry day ahead with cloudy areas and some sunshine but the far north could see cloud thicken up and some rain by later in the day or this evening with easterlies beginning to hum along.

Temperatures are near average for most of the North Island if not a tad warmer in eastern parts but a cooler southerly over the southern part of the nation should see temperatures 3-5 degrees cooler than usual for mid March.