Temperatures are about to drop as a cold front and southerly change slowly moves up the country. For the most part a large portion of New Zealand is warmer than average today, especially inland this afternoon. The North Island also remains mainly dry with downpours not arriving until later today or this evening in some western areas.

Rain and increasing southerlies move up the South Island mostly affecting Southland, Fiordland, South Westland and Otago but moving into Canterbury later today or tonight with rain and a cold southerly change.

Highs: 8 to 24 (coldest in Southland and Otago, warmest in Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne).

– WeatherWatch.co.nz