Here’s what is making the weather headlines today….

LOW AND FRONT CLOSES IN

The message hasn’t changed from yesterday’s update, a low pressure system moves towards the South Island from the Tasman Sea, northerly quarter winds ahead of this low strengthen.

Heavy rain develops about South Westland this afternoon then spreads northwards this evening, thunderstorms may develop later this evening and overnight for the West Coast.

Metservice has warnings out on today’s system, you can see them here. Most are for the South Island and about Wellington.

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NORTH ISLAND THUNDERSTORMS EARLY ON SATURDAY

As some cold upper air passes over the North Island on Saturday morning expect showers or areas of rain, thunderstorms are possible too then easing from afternoon as a front clears out to the northeast.

The below maps are the lifted index, the first one for 7:00am, the second for 10:00am. Figures below 0 is unstable air, the more negative the number the more unstable.

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HIGH PRESSURE MOVES IN FROM SATURDAY

High pressure moves in over the South Island on Saturday bringing settled weather, once the heavy showers mentioned above for the North Island ease from afternoon high pressure moves in there.

Most of New Zealand is settled on Sunday.