Mainly anticyclonic today with a large high centre to the west in the Tasman Sea and another smaller one to the east, in the middle a weak and narrow area of lower pressure covers New Zealand.

North Island
A shower or two possible today about eastern Waikato, Bay Of Plenty and about the ranges of East Cape down through to Wairarapa. Late afternoon / evening showers for Bay Of Plenty and the ranges of Gisborne / Hawkes Bay could turn heavy with some thunder then easing later on.

South Island
Risk of a drizzle patch or shower this morning about coastal Southland, Canterbury, Nelson and Marlborough then clearing. About the ranges of North Otago and inland Canterbury isolated showers may develop late afternoon / evening, a chance one or two may be heavy then clearing later on.

Image: Thursday 27th December 2018 1:00pm MSLP / Rain map – weathermap.co.nz

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