Low pressure is leaving the South Island today but another low will brush the upper North Island on Saturday bringing rain with some isolated heavier falls, before clearing away on Sunday.

Sunday will becoming windier with westerly quarter winds ramping up, rising to gale in some exposed parts of NZ, with those winds intensifying on Monday and likely again on Wednesday. Damaging gusts are possible in both main islands – we highlight where and when this will be most likely.

A warmer airflow is moving over parts of the South Island today and Saturday, while the North Island remains milder thanks to a subtropical flow for now – but by Sunday and Monday colder air again moves over NZ, especially the South Island on Sunday and/or Monday.

Next week temperature do lift again, but spring’s wild westerlies will be the main feature of NZ’s weather next week, along with more heavy West Coast rain.