Here’s what is making the weather headlines today.

RAIN – NORTH OTAGO / SOUTH CANTERBURY THIS EVENING

A southwesterly airflow lies over New Zealand today but winds will swing around to the east or northeast this afternoon along the east coast of the South Island. These winds converge with the general southwest airflow and this causes showers to form about North Otago and South Canterbury. Showers turn to rain this evening then rain pushing northwards through Canterbury overnight.

We also have some cold upper air so this aides in shower activity to develop, generally instability is in the lower atmosphere but if surface temperatures and moisture are high enough this could overcome any stable layer higher up. While it is not a high risk there is the possibility these showers could become heavy with thunder for a time. A very similar situation occurred on Friday 25th November last week about South Canterbury with thunderstorms developing in the evening there, perhaps a repeat in store.

WARMEST AND SUNNIEST TODAY – BAY OF PLENTY

As we are in a southwesterly airflow today, regions sheltered from this type of flow tend to be the warmest and sunniest. These regions are Nelson and Bay Of Plenty.

While Nelsons weather is looking pretty good Bay Of Plenty gets the warmest temperatures reaching into the low to mid twenties.

SOUTHWESTERLIES FRESH FOR THE NORTH ISLAND

Winds for coastal parts of the North Island are quite fresh from the southwest today especially in the west and east (Gisborne through to Wairarapa). Winds ease from this evening especially in the east.

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