A northwesterly airflow builds over New Zealand today ahead of a cold front which moves onto the lower South Island from afternoon.

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

North Island

Some cloud in the west with the odd shower, sun breaks through at times, northwesterly winds. Showers pick up from late afternoon or evening in the southwest (Taranaki through to Wellington). Mostly sunny for the east coast with northwesterlies, overnight spits of rain for Wairarapa. Northwesterlies rising to gale force from evening through Cook Strait.

South Island

Showers for the West Coast, turning to rain about South Westland and becoming heavy in the afternoon then spreading northwards in the evening. Thunderstorms and hail overnight about South Westland. Spits of rain for the Marlborough Sounds from afternoon then widespread rain from evening about Nelson / Marlborough spreading in from the west. Sunny areas and increasing high cloud in the east with warm temperatures, north to northwesterly winds becoming gusty later in the day especially about Canterbury, some evening scattered rain for Southland. Rain spreads into the eastern high country from the west overnight perhaps reaching the coast by dawn on Tuesday.