A ridge of high pressure pushes over the South Island early in the morning today then gradually spreads onto the North Island later in the day. This ridge hangs over the North Island on Saturday bringing mainly settled weather while a northwesterly airflow brings showers or rain for the west of the South Island and mainly dry weather in the east.

Morning rain for the eastern North Island eases to showers then gradually clearing away in the evening today, mainly sunny elsewhere. The South Island has a sunny day also, just some morning cloud in the northeast then clearing. Also a frosty start for some inland areas, especially Central Otago.

Mainly settled for the North Island on Saturday, a light shower or two possible about Northland from afternoon however. There may be a touch of mist or fog for inland areas morning and night. For the South Island expect cloudy skies in the west with the odd light shower, rain moves into Fiordland from afternoon with heavy falls then slowly moving northwards. Expect high cloud in the east with milder temperatures and mainly dry conditions.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz