A cold southwesterly airflow lies over New Zealand today as a low passes out to the east. A ridge brings a period of settled weather for New Zealand on Wednesday, however not for long as a cold front pushes onto the lower South Island later in the afternoon.

Showers for the western North Island today, heavy at times. Some rain in the afternoon Taranaki southwards then easing at night. Showers may be heavy with hail at times for Northland. Rain about Wairarapa spreads northwards during this afternoon. Southerly winds rising to gale through Cook Strait from afternoon. Rain for the eastern South Island easing to showers this afternoon, clearing later in the evening / overnight for most then watch for frosts around dawn on Wednesday morning. Mostly sunny for the West Coast during the day, a few showers for Buller however.

Mostly sunny for the upper North Island on Wednesday, there may be a few clearing morning showers for Northland. Morning showers clear Hawkes Bay / Gisborne then sun increases. Mostly sunny in the west Taranaki southwards then cloud increases in the evening, rain moves in overnight. Mostly sunny for a majority of the South Island with developing high cloud, morning frosts are possible especially for inland areas. Rain moves into Fiordland around midday then pushes northwards in the evening. Rain moves into Southland late afternoon then Otago in the evening, Canterbury overnight with gusty southwest winds, strong about the coast.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz