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

STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS IN THE EAST

A low out east brings in very strong southwesterly winds for coastal parts in the east today, these winds finally start to ease later on.

The main coastal areas that will be affected are the Kaikoura coast, Wellington, Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay up through to Mahia Peninsula.

Metservice have a few watches and warnings out on this wind, you can see them here.

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SETTLED FOR A TIME THEN FRONT ON SATURDAY

Today is actually largely settled despite the very strong southwesterlies still persisting in the east, these winds really drop away overnight and the whole country including eastern regions is settled on Friday.

It doesn’t last all that long though as a front moves in from the Tasman bringing rain to the West Coast overnight Friday. Expect morning spots of rain for the eastern South Island on Saturday then breaking to afternoon sun with northerly winds and warm temperatures.

Expect rain for the western North Island on Saturday with some scattered rain spreading eastwards as our front pushes ENE. There may be some instability north of about Auckland from afternoon, so that means a chance of thunderstorms.

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RAINFALL OUTLOOK

Through till the 6th of April the rainfall outlook is looking a bit dry in the east and for some western areas, for the North Island in the northeast from East Cape across to Northland expect an average amount of rainfall. Most of that rainfall can be attributed to the frontal system moving through this weekend.

The Precipitation percentage of normal map below, red shading means less rainfall is expected compared to the statistical average, blue shading means more rainfall is expected, white means an average amount of rainfall.