A strong west to southwesterly airflow lies over the country today. Within that flow expect a front to move onto the lower South Island later this afternoon and push northwards during the evening and overnight. Generally cloudier in the west today with the odd shower, sunnier and warmer in the east.

Northland, Auckland, Waikato & Bay Of Plenty

Sunny areas and some cloud, chance of an occasional shower. The Bay Of Plenty is more likely to be mostly sunny with dry conditions all day. Breezy west to southwest winds.

High: 16-17

Western North Island (including Central North Island)

Cloudy areas with a few showers possible, breezy westerly quarter winds.

Highs: 13-15

Eastern North Island

Mostly sunny weather with any early cloud clearing away, west to northwest winds picking up in the afternoon.

Highs: 17-18

Wellington

Sunny with breezy to brisk northwesterly winds.

High: 14-15

Marlborough & Nelson

Sunny weather with light winds in the morning then northwesterlies picking up in the afternoon becoming gusty at times.

High: 17

Canterbury

Sunny with light winds tending northwesterly in the afternoon, northwesterlies becoming gusty inland. Winds change southerly around dawn on Wednesday bringing some cloud.

Highs: 15-16

West Coast

Mostly cloudy with the odd patchy shower, brisk westerly winds. Rain moves into South Westland in the evening then further north overnight.

Highs: 10-12

Southland & Otago

Sunny areas and thickening high cloud with west to northwesterly winds strong at times especially Southland, the odd spit possible. Rain from late afternoon or evening with a strong to gale westerly change then easing to the odd shower later in the evening. Showers go no further north then about Otago Peninsula.

Highs: 10-13

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz