Situation

A large high pressure system sits over the country today, mainly centred over the North Island but this will gradually push away to the east over the coming days. Thursday a front starts to move onto the South Island from the southwest, reaching the North Island on Friday and then tapping into some subtropical moisture.

Rain

Most regions around the country are dry today however we have a few light showers for eastern Northland due to an easterly airflow moving around our high, the West Coast is also picking up one or two light showers as a gentle northwesterly drift flows over the Mainland. No great change tomorrow although showers pick up for South Westland. Thursday is when chances of rain increase.

Temperatures

Temperatures are very pleasant across the country after a cold start this morning, overnight lows tonight shouldn’t be as cold although still frosty perhaps for alpine areas. Expect afternoon temperatures in the late teens tomorrow for the east of both islands, perhaps hitting the early twenties on Thursday. Late Thursday and into Friday temperatures tumble in the south as a cold front moves in.

Winds

Light winds today and tomorrow although gusty to strong from the northerly quarter through Cook Strait and for coastal Fiordland. Northerlies ramp up over the South Island on Thursday with the strongest winds for inland areas in the east, a southerly overnight may get strong about eastern Canterbury then midday Friday for the lower North Island.

Upcoming potential severe weather

Heavy rain and strong winds will be the main issue this week, heavy rain hitting South Westland from Thursday then gradually moving north in the west. Friday afternoon onwards heavy rain could move into the upper North Island before easing Saturday. For more details on upcoming potential severe weather please visit this page here.

Expect some snow for the Southern Alps with the cold change late Thursday and into Friday, this will be mainly up in the ski fields.