The skies have cleared over northern New Zealand today making for perfect driving weather for those getting away for the school holidays.  Much of the North Island remains sunny however heavy showers are now moving in to Taranaki and Wanganui from the west.

In the South Island the rain has eased quite a bit but it remains very cold with 5 degrees in Christchurch this hour.

Although last night’s thunderstorms were a fizzer across much of New Zealand Weather Watch Centre forecasters have higher confidence that thunderstorms will affect the North Island over the next 24 to 36 hours.  

“Showers are spreading from the west as part of a large low pressure system” says the Centre.  “We anticipate heavy showers, some squally with thunder, anywhere from Taranaki to Northland.  There’s a low risk this evening and a high risk tomorrow afternoon or night”.

The Weather Watch Centre will have more updates tomorrow when conditions are expected to go down hill as the low moves in to the North Island.