A low is centred to the east of New Zealand on Saturday driving an easterly airflow over the South Island, westerlies further north. The low starts to weaken on Sunday but still has some sting in its tail with further rain lined up for the eastern South Island, possibly heavy.

Showers for much of Saturday about the western North Island, drier in the east. A wet day for the eastern South Island with areas of rain or showers, heavy falls possible from evening / overnight. Mainly dry for the west coast however expect a few showers north of about Hokitika especially in the morning.

A fair majority of the North Island is looking fairly dry on Sunday in the very latest model updates that have come through since the maps below were drawn. Still…. Northland, Taranaki and Wellington look to see some rain or showers. The eastern South Island sees rain with heavy falls about the Southern Alps / inland ranges, snow will likely be heavy high up also which bodes well for the ski fields. The Central Otago ski fields not as lucky though on Sunday. Conditions are mainly sunny out west.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz