A front pushes northwards over the South Island today however it weakens quickly from afternoon then another cold front moves onto the lower South Island by evening. Meanwhile the North Island is covered in a westerly airflow. A blustery west to southwesterly airflow lies over New Zealand on Saturday.

Rain for the west of the South Island this morning may be heavy at times then easing from afternoon. Northwesterly winds about the inner South Island will be brisk or strong at times, perhaps gusting to gale force in exposed areas. Westerlies become quite strong with gales likely about coastal Southland from afternoon then changing strong to gale southwest late afternoon or evening.

Overall a generally dry day in the east and wet in the west although the western North Island will see areas of dry at times and perhaps some sun.

Rain or showers for western and southern parts of the country on Saturday, a southwest change brings a few showers up into Canterbury during the afternoon.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz