It’s been a cold, gloomy, wet day for many Auckland suburbs as cloud, showers and drizzle are fed into the area by easterlies along the fringe of a large high pressure system.

Stunning weather has been reported around the country and although a little cool in some spots the sun has definitely been out.

But Auckland only saw a glimpse of the sun shortly after sunrise and then the clouds rolled on.

“I guess a lot of Aucklanders are feeling pretty ripped off today” says Philip Duncan, head weather analyst at the Weather Watch Centre.  “It was something that was always on the cards but we were hoping the winds would stay slightly more south east”.

The main band of light showers has moved into Northland this afternoon affecting mostly eastern areas.   Only very fine drizzle is being reported over Auckland.

“Tomorrow is looking better for Auckland although there’s still the risk of a small light shower – especially in northern regions.  Tomorrow should also be a degree or two warmer”.

So why is Auckland having this bleak weather when there’s a large high over us?  And don’t highs always bring sunny weather?  Duncan says the short answer is “nope!”  “Coastal areas – especially in Winter – can get a lot of cloud, created by the relatively warmer sea waters…and this is made worse on the outer edges of the high where winds can blow clouds in.   Unfortunately for Aucklanders the south easterly has shifted more easterly. This slight change in wind direction means the Coromandel Peninsula no longer blocks the cloud and showers and instead it sweeps straight in from the Hauraki Gulf and into Auckland”.