More windy weather is coming, although many places will notice a lift in temperatures today and tomorrow thanks to a nor’west flow coming out of Australia (eastern parts of Australia heading above 30 degrees for the first time in months, meaning NZ is likely to break the 20 degree mark in eastern areas).

Westerly gales ramp up overnight Thursday and across Friday across large parts of NZ with damaging gales possible in both main islands. Rain becomes heavy on the West Coast.

The polar boundary is leaving NZ today (hence it warming up) but returns to the southern half of the South Island by Friday and remains over the lower South Island for Saturday.

Low pressure on Sunday moves into NZ bringing more wind and western rain, followed by a windy southerly on Monday next week and another temperature drop.