A large low in the Tasman Sea is moving into NZ with pockets of heavy rain, strong winds – and isolated thunderstorms and downpours.

Rain bands move in later today and again on Thursday as this very large low inches closer. Low pressure creates instability in the atmosphere which can make for sudden downpours that can break what is forecast to fall – so tracking on the rain radar is helpful over the next few days as some downpours may surprise people.

By Friday a cold and much windier South-West flow moves in and will linger for the entire long weekend – bringing western and southern showers along NZ, and driest weather in the east of both main islands.

We have your full forecast through to Tuesday next week.