A westerly airflow lies over New Zealand today, later in the afternoon or evening a very cold but brief southwest change moves onto the lower South Island then moving northwards overnight. An anticyclone quickly pushes onto New Zealand on Thursday moving in from the west.

A few showers for the western North Island today, mainly from afternoon, drier and sunnier in the east. Showers for the West Coast of the South Island during the day, gradually turning to rain later this afternoon / evening then easing at night. The east coast is mainly sunny, cold southwesterlies develop about the far south late afternoon / evening with a period of rain then moving northwards overnight however this front will weaken. Some snow with this cold change for a brief time down to 300m about the far south this evening.

A mix of sun and cloud for the upper North Island on Thursday, a few showers affect the east coast and western areas south of Taranaki for a time associated with a weak front moving over the area. The South Island has a mainly sunny day for most, any cloud in the east and south quickly breaks away. North Westland has a few morning showers clear then sunny areas increase. Marlborough and Nelson sees cloudy areas hang about for much of the day.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz