A ridge lies over the South Island on Friday meanwhile an occluded front sweeps down over the North Island from the northeast.

A mainly sunny day for the South Island on Friday, some high cloud possible in the north and south of the Island.

For the North Island skies are cloudier, rain sweeps over most of the upper North Island in the morning bringing the chance of a heavy fall, an area of heavier downpours possible Auckland northwards then easing back in the afternoon to patchy showers or drizzle. The lower North Island is mainly dry apart from some drizzle in the east, some rain moves through Taranaki and the Central North Island during the afternoon then easing in the evening.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz