The centre of the low responsible for the heavy downpours across both islands over the past 24 hours is now moving closer to New Zealand and will cross the North Island tonight as it continues to weaken.

Heavy showers will continue to move into western regions of central New Zealand mainly between Nelson and Taranaki.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says there’s a low risk of a thunderstorm about Taranaki this evening.  MetService has high risk.

Meanwhile conditions will gradually get cooler over the country tomorrow as a south west change develops.

Most centres should only be a degree or two cooler with a burst of colder air moving up the country on Monday.  The coldest change is still expected for Wednesday but it’s still unclear if that more wintry blast will make it beyond the South Island.

For Sunday most places should be fairly dry with showers and colder winds moving into the South Island in the afternoon and a few showers still lingering about the North Island, with long dry spells in between.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz