Weather: Mixed bag for first week of summer

Summer is not expected to get off to a fine start today - rain and even hail are forecast for much of the country.

Showers that hit Auckland, Christchurch and the west of the South Island yesterday would continue, MetService meteorologist Philippa Murdoch said.

"A cold southwesterly is forecast for [today] but things will ease a little by Tuesday, and then we are back into some rain developing and drizzle later in the week."

Ms Murdoch said fairly cold temperatures forecast for today could bring hail for some, particularly in the west of the South Island and central parts of the country.

"As we go later into the week it will be mainly fine on Tuesday with a few showers still lingering in the east and south of the North Island, but it will be mainly fine everywhere else."

Ms Murdoch said cloud would begin to develop again over the west of the North Island on Wednesday, but it would be mainly fine in most other areas.

"Some rain will begin to develop in Fiordland on Wednesday and that rain will spread north up the South Island during Thursday, mainly in the west."

She said rain in the west of the South Island would begin to ease again by Friday. The south of the North Island could expect some drizzle, but it would be fine elsewhere.

Summer's mixed start

Auckland
Today: Fine spells and a few showers. Fresh southwesterlies. High 17C. Low 9C.
Tomorrow: Mainly fine. Southwesterlies dying away. High 19C. Low 9C.

Hamilton
Today: Showers, heavy in the afternoon with a chance of hail. Westerly then late southerly. High 16C. Low 4C.
Tomorrow: Fine with light winds. High 20C. Low 4C.

Tauranga
Today: Showers, some heavy in the afternoon with hail. Westerly easing. High 18C. Low 7C.
Tomorrow: Fine with southerly breezes. High 20C. Low 9C.

Wellington
Today: Showers, some heavy with hail. Fresh cold southerlies. High 12C. Low 8C.
Tomorrow: A few showers, clearing in the afternoon. Dying southerly. High 13C. Low 8C.
Source: MetService