A front moves northwards over the upper South Island on Thursday pushing onto the lower North Island in the evening. Northwesterlies ahead of the front and west to southwest winds in behind.

For the upper North Island, after any morning cloud clears it’s a mainly sunny day with northwesterly winds. Temperatures getting into the mid 20’s during the afternoon. Overnight a few showers move into the Waikato.

Mostly cloudy about the lower North Island in the west, chance of a light shower or two with breezy northwesterlies. In the evening some rain moves in then clearing overnight. Mainly sunny for the east coast, some high cloud later in the day. A few spots of rain move into the Wairarapa in the evening then further northwards overnight. Winds becoming gusty from the northwest midday onwards, temperatures in the high 20’s or early 30’s in the afternoon.

Rain for North Westland eases during the afternoon to showers as northwesterly winds change southwest. Further south early morning rain eases to showers, some of which may become heavy from midday onwards about Fiordland with thunderstorms and hail. The east coast sees brisk to strong northwesterly winds, thick high cloud also. A few spots of rain are possible about Canterbury in the morning then Marlborough in the afternoon then once rain clears some sun breaks through.

Southland sees showers develop during the morning, some may be heavy at times with a risk of thunderstorms and hail from afternoon. Otago sees cloudy areas, chance of a few showers developing during the morning more so about Central Otago. Coastal Otago may stay fairly dry for much of the day although the odd shower is possible. Winds brisk from the west, strong about coastal areas especially coastal Southland and the Catlins.

Not all regions and towns have been mentioned above. For specific 10 day information for your city, town, rural community or island please see the 1500 forecasts on our homepage!

– Aaron Wilkinson, WeatherWatch.co.nz