Anticyclonic conditions lie over New Zealand today while a front extends out of the Tasman Sea across the North Island, northerlies pick up later in the day. A front passes over New Zealand on Friday in a strong northwesterly airflow. Another front moves over the North Island on Saturday while much of the South Island is settled.

Thursday

Blue – Rain for the upper North Island may be heavy this morning then easing by midday. Rain moves onto the West Coast of the South Island overnight with heavy falls towards dawn on Friday.

Purple – Northeasterly winds strengthen about coastal Fiordland overnight.

Friday

Blue – Heavy rain for the West Coast of the South Island during the day, more so in the morning. Areas of heavy rain move onto the lower North Island in the west during the afternoon.

Purple – A strong northerly airflow covers much of the South Island and lower North Island in the morning but this flow becomes more intense during the afternoon as winds tend strong northwest. Winds may gust to gale from the northwest from midday onwards about the likes of Canterbury and Marlborough, especially inland, and also the Cook Strait area.

Blue – A front passes over the North Island and upper South Island (Nelson / Marlborough) in the afternoon bringing a few heavy falls. A chance of thunderstorms about Northland and Auckland as this front moves through.

– Please note, the idea behind this update is to focus on the main weather highlights, which is why not all regions are mentioned. 

For specific 10 day information for your city, town, rural community or island please see the 1000 forecasts on our homepage!

– Aaron Wilkinson, WeatherWatch.co.nz