3pm Update

The front is falling apart as it heads north due to higher air pressure over the North Island. 

Heavy rain is currently falling across the northern South Island.  Isolated areas of showers are moving into north and west facing regions in the North Island.

The warm, humid, northerly is bringing higher temperatures to many areas this afternoon.  This hour it’s 22 degrees in Whangarei, 20 in Auckland, Paeroa and Gisborne and 21 in Hastings.

The Weather Watch Centre thinks patchy rain or drizzle will move into Auckland overnight tonight and in the early hours of Friday.

So enjoy the warm northerly flow today – and for the northern half of the North Island enjoy a pleasantly warm night tonight.  We’re expecting Auckland to hover around 14 tonight – possibly even 15.

But a cooler, stronger, west or south west change will spread up the country on Friday and many places will notice a significant drop in the temperature.  It wont be bitterly cold but compared to the warm weather of the past few days it’ll be noticeable…so perhaps warmer clothes will be needed for work on Friday or if you’re going out tomorrow night or Saturday.

The weekend is looking like it’ll improve by Sunday with western areas most likely to be affected by cooler, showery weather.

Sneak Peak into Next Week:

At this stage Monday next week looks windy for the bottom 2/3s of New Zealand with a ridge of high pressure remaining over northern places (which should also clear skies the day before, on Sunday).  By Tuesday a front will spread across the country with winds from the westerly quarter affecting most places. 

On a side note:  Issues with the Auckland section of the Lightning Detector have now been resolved – many thanks to the efforts of those who run the detectors!