A westerly airflow lies over New Zealand today, a disturbance in the Tasman Sea moves onto the upper South Island this evening bringing some rain. A front pushes over the North Island during Saturday (the disturbance) in a southwesterly airflow, meanwhile another front moves onto the lower South Island in the morning before moving northwards although it weakens as it does.

Showers for western parts of the North Island today, sunnier out east.

Showers for the West Coast of the South Island and for Southland. Sunny weather for Otago, Canterbury and Marlborough for much of the day with some high cloud. During the evening some rain moves onto the West Coast Greymouth northwards, spreading into Nelson and Marlborough overnight. A few spots of rain may affect parts of North Canterbury this evening. This rain may bring a few thunderstorms for Buller.

The area of rain that brought a few heavy falls for the upper South Island overnight moves onto the western North Island during the morning on Saturday then eases during the afternoon and evening. Most other North Island regions see a few showers for a time, mainly afternoon / evening.

Brisk to strong westerlies for much of the South Island, rain or showers in the west and south. Some snow lowers to 500m for the mountains of Fiordland. Some snow to 500m for a time in Southland also. Showers only briefly affect Otago for a time around midday as a front passes over. Mainly sunny for Canterbury, Nelson and Marlborough. Just the chance of early rain for Nelson and Marlborough then clearing.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz