A ridge lies over New Zealand this morning however it then gets quickly shoved away as a front moves onto the lower South Island late morning, reaching the North Island in the evening. A cool southwesterly airflow eases over the country on Friday, a finger of moisture stretches out from the Tasman later in the day bringing some rain to the western North Island.

A cold or frosty start for many inland areas this morning.

Rain pushes northwards over the South Island during today, a chance of some heavy rain for South Westland with only showers or a few spots out east. Rain moves onto the western North Island this evening.

Strong southwesterlies about the eastern North Island ease in the morning, in the west southwesterly winds become strong there later in the evening. For the South Island it’s not till late afternoon or evening that strong southwesterlies push northwards along the east coast.

A few showers pepper many regions around New Zealand on Friday, expect long areas of dry also. Later in the evening or overnight some rain moves onto the western North Island, a chance that within this rain there could be a heavy fall or two.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz