Today is the winter solstice – or the shortest day of the year/day with least amount of available sunlight. The winter solstice is a precise moment in time – at 3:31pm today.

A low pressure system directs a southerly airflow over the North Island today, strong to gale through Cook Strait. Southerlies ease for the upper South Island meanwhile it’s settled for the lower half.

Please refer to your local, hourly, 10 day forecast for more details.

North Island

A few showers north of Auckland today, sunny spells about the Waikato and Bay Of Plenty but a few showers may move in from this afternoon. Taranaki through to Wellington and along the east coast has a showery day although Gisborne may be dry this morning till showers move in. Rain (possibly heavy) about Wellington and Wairarapa, moving into Hawkes Bay and Gisborne this evening. Winds are from the south, strong to gale through Cook Strait and about coastal Taranaki.

South Island

Mostly sunny along the West Coast, some high cloud for North Westland and Nelson though. Showers for Canterbury northwards in the east, gradually clearing from the south as today moves along. Rain about the Kaikoura area and Marlborough eases to showers this afternoon then clears this evening. Mostly sunny about Southland and Otago after any early cloud clears, later this evening and overnight expect a few showers as a cold front moves in.