Dry weather is dominating across New Zealand at the moment – and while it’s very welcome in the northern and eastern North Island in particular, it’s not going to remain dry.

Across Friday rain clouds will move up the West Coast with heavy falls and the odd thunderstorm.

As this front tracks northwards up the South Island today it will run into higher air pressure over the North Island.

The further north the front goes, the more it weakens.

So overnight tonight this front will start to push into the North Island with showers and patchy rain.

The cold front disintegrates over the North Island on Saturday thanks to higher air pressure in the north and the general lack of energy with this front. This means rain clouds break up into showers and there are larger areas with dry weather.

By Saturday evening most places in New Zealand will be dry again, or becoming dry – with Sunday looking dry for most places with the exception, again, of the West Coast as the next cold front moves in.

12 Noon Friday

Midnight Friday

12 Noon Saturday

Midnight Saturday

– Images / Weathermap.co.nz

– WeatherWatch.co.nz