A front slowly pushes southwards over Northland and Auckland today, this front hooked into a low which is centred just to the northeast of the North Island. Meanwhile the South Island sits under a ridge of high pressure. A ridge continues over the South Island on Saturday although a front does approach the lower south later in the day then moves northwards overnight, southeasterlies for the North Island. A cool southerly airflow lies over the country on Sunday.

Friday

Blue – Rain moves onto Northland / Auckland this morning and may bring a heavy fall or two. For the most part rain is looking to be more patchy than anything but the chance is there.

A fairly cloudy day about the east of the country with drizzle for the eastern North Island, morning showers clear along the West Coast of the South Island then some sun breaks through from afternoon. Morning cloud breaks to afternoon sunny spells for Southland / Otago.

Saturday

Blue – Showers about northeastern fringes of the North Island may be heavy in the morning then easing away.

A cold start about much of the South Island, not a big frost but temperatures may reach down to -2 degrees celsius in isolated inland areas.

Sunday

Blue – Not overly cold for a winters night however lows of 2 to 0 degrees celsius may occur by dawn on Sunday for some inland areas. South Island low temperatures look to develop earlier in the night before a front moving up from the south ruffles up temperatures a little.

Purple – Southerlies becoming brisk to strong during the morning through Cook Strait.

– 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 1500 forecasts on our homepage!

– Aaron Wilkinson, WeatherWatch.co.nz