Situation

Between high pressure over the upper North Island and lows in the Southern Ocean a westerly flow meanders in between delivering a warm day to eastern regions, a few showers to the West Coast. While mainly dry periods of cloud drift in for the upper and western North Island off the Tasman.

Rain, temperatures and winds

Once again not really a wet day around New Zealand is it, the West Coast is picking up showers as it should in a westerly airflow but that is mostly it. Showers for the West Coast may even become restricted to south of the Glaciers this evening and overnight one or two may head into western parts of the North Island.

Highs this afternoon in the late teens for many however the West Coast sticks in the mid teens. Getting a little warmer tomorrow and Saturday.

Westerlies may be a little blustery for the lower North Island but easing from this afternoon, also expect blustery winds for mountainous parts of the South Island and coastal Southland / Stewart Island coming in from the west or northwest.

Upcoming potential severe weather

No real major change to yesterday’s outlook in regards to this weekend but a few subtle differences. A northerly airflow strengthens on Saturday ahead of a front that lands onto the lower South Island from afternoon then moves north. Expect heavy rain for the West Coast as this front moves through, a chance of thunderstorms too. Southland may see a period of heavy rain in the evening for a time.

The top of the South Island (especially in the west and for the Sounds) could see heavy rain early on Sunday then Sunday afternoon as the front crosses the North Island with a risk of thunder again. The front as it moves over the North Island on Sunday delivers less rain on the whole than for the West Coast on Saturday but the odd heavy fall is still possible. Later in the day or overnight the front moves away to the northeast.

Eastern regions don’t receive as much wet weather in the southerly component of this system, the main thing to watch for in the east will be strong northerlies preceding the aforementioned front.

More details on upcoming watches and warnings here.

Main story image: Thursday 15th May 2025 10:00am. True colour satellite imagery courtesy of the Himawari satellite from Japan Meteorological Agency.