A large low pressure system is centred to the east of New Zealand on Friday slowly rotating a cold southwesterly airflow over the country bringing unsettled weather to most regions.

Areas of rain or showers for most of the North Island on Friday, there may be a few heavy falls with thunderstorms and hail in the west at times, mainly south of Taranaki in the morning then further northwards in the afternoon.

For the West Coast of the South Island any early showers clear then conditions becoming mainly sunny. The odd shower about coastal Southland spreads northwards during the afternoon and evening into parts of Otago and Canterbury.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz