A north to northwest airflow lies over New Zealand today. A southwest change moves onto the lower South Island around midday, reaching the upper South Island around midnight. Mainly anticyclonic on Thursday however a disturbance to the west brings some wet weather for central areas.

Areas of rain or showers for western New Zealand today south of about Waikato, precipitation more persistent for the South Island’s West Coast. Mainly dry in the east however a cool southwest change moves into Southland early afternoon reaching Canterbury in the evening bringing rain or showers, possibly heavy.

Areas of rain or showers for Central New Zealand on Thursday, quite cloudy in the east for most however Hawkes Bay and Gisborne sees some sun. The West Coast south of Hokitika and Auckland / Northland in the north has sunny areas and some high cloud.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz