Weak high pressure for most of New Zealand today meanwhile a low lies off to the northeast, some instability this afternoon about the South Island ranges.

🌀🚨#CycloneFormationAlert – As we said last week, there is a chance of another tropical cyclone this week – and the Fiji MetService now has tracking maps for it.

It's worth noting this storm looks to have less impact on #NZ than ex-tropical cyclone Hale – but worth monitoring. pic.twitter.com/KUbh8FGNB6

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) January 17, 2023

North Island

Cloud gradually thickens today in the northeast, out west expect a mix of sun and high cloud. Showers for Hawkes Bay northwards in the east, rain north of Mahia Peninsula later this afternoon moves southwards into Hawkes Bay overnight. Bay Of Plenty across to Northland gets the odd spit or shower at times, especially this evening. Winds come in from the east or southeast, southeasterlies gusty for Gisborne, East Cape, coastal Bay Of Plenty, Coromandel and Great Barrier Island especially later today then easing overnight.

South Island

Cloud in the east this morning with the risk of a spit or shower then breaking to sunny spells this afternoon. Southland, Central Otago, Nelson and Marlborough should have mostly sunny weather, also the West Coast. About the Main Divide (more so in the west) isolated showers develop this afternoon, one or two could become heavy with a risk of thunder especially about Buller. Light winds for most tending onshore this afternoon, east to northeasterly winds picking up a little in the east.

• 

•