Strong northerlies lie over the country today with a front pushing into the lower South Island this morning, reaching the western North Island in the evening. This front passes off to the east of the North Island on Wednesday then another front moves onto western New Zealand during the evening and overnight.

Heavy rain spreads northwards along the West Coast of the South Island today, reaching Northland in the evening. Generally drier conditions in the east with some high cloud. A period of rain or showers working there way into Southland and Otago however.

A mixture of rain or showers for most of the North Island on Wednesday, there may be long dry areas develop for a time in the afternoon then later in the evening / overnight showers push into the west with a chance of heavy falls. Some morning rain about the Bay Of Plenty and Central North Island may be heavy then easing. Rain or showers about Nelson / Marlborough clears around midday then some sun breaks through, mostly sunny elsewhere for the South Island. From afternoon heavy rain pushes into Fiordland then reaching North Westland later in the evening.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz