We interrupt our normal video format this week with a series of stories around midday each day.

Today we are experiencing a reasonably strong front pushing over the country from the southwest, the lower and eastern South Island have received some welcome rain from it but strong winds also especially eastern coastal parts this morning. The West Coast definitely had some good rain too but it’s more business as usual there, Buller has started to get a bit dry though so thundery falls this morning would have been welcome.

The North Island feels the impact of this front from now, pushing into the lower North Island at first then reaching the likes of Auckland later this afternoon or evening. Gisborne sees rain this evening with a southwest change. There could be a rumble of thunder or two as the change moves through but more so for the lower North Island, the front loses some oomph the further north it goes.

Overnight high pressure starts to nudge in and conditions dry out, only a few showers remain about some outer extremities. Cold temperatures develop for inland parts of both Islands, 2 to 3 degrees is not out of the question about alpine areas of the South Island, also the Central Plateau further north.

Moving along to Tuesday conditions are mainly settled with high pressure starting to nudge in, some morning cloud and a few showers clear for some but overall not bad. Coastal Southland has the odd shower persist till evening along with parts of North Westland.

Wednesday is mainly settled and mostly sunny thanks to high pressure, perhaps some cloud in the west with maybe a light shower or two along the West Coast.

Thursday high cloud increases ahead of a low and front combination moving in from the Tasman, northerly winds increase during the day and will likely be strong to gale for parts of western and central NZ. Rain afternoon on wards for the West Coat becomes heavy and thundery, showers gradually increase for the western North Island mainly later in the day then there could be some overnight rain. Eastern regions are drier and warmer, the eastern South Island may see spits of rain overnight as the aforementioned front passes over the Island out to the east.

Friday we se some more wet weather in the west, drier weather in the east in a northwest airflow however Southland up through to South Canterbury may see showers for a time as another weaker front passes by.

In the below precipitation percentage of normal map you can see how the West Coast picks up the bulk of any rain incoming over the next seven days. The North Island is drier overall but that isn’t a bad thing considering soil moisture conditions are still high, good grass growth will be welcome over the coming days and perhaps weeks.

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