A front was sitting over Wairarapa this morning.
Wellington and the Wairarapa had seen about 33mm fall over the past 12 hours. This was easing this morning but would shift north to Hawke's Bay and Gisborne later today.
"The front is moving north so will spread rain with it."
The South Island's eastern areas would get most of the wet and cold weather today. Low cloud and drizzle is forecast for Christchurch and Dunedin, where highs of 10C and 9C respectively are expected.
There could be a brief respite mid-afternoon, before another weak front moves up the South Island by the evening.
Tomorrow a ridge would spread over the South Island, keeping the weather largely the same as today. By Thursday it would begin to push the drizzly weather north, leaving relatively fine weather for the end of the week.
In the upper North Island a low could move south from Northland on Thursday, bringing potentially heavy rain.
However, some models showed the ridge reaching the upper North Island by late Thursday, which could bump the slow-moving trough north of Northland, bringing a fine end to the week there too.
Today's weather
Whangārei Partly cloudy, showers increasing evening as westerlies turn southeast. 18C high, 10C overnight.
Auckland Partly cloudy. A few showers, increasing in the evening. Westerlies turn southeast evening. 17C high, 10C overnight.
Hamilton Showers easing afternoon then clearing evening. Westerlies turn easterly evening. 16C high, 7C overnight.
Tauranga Partly cloudy, a few showers until evening. Southeasterly developing afternoon. 17C high, 8C overnight.
New Plymouth Rain, possibly heavy, easing to showers morning then clearing at night. Southeasterly strengthening morning. 14C high, 7C overnight.
Napier Cloud increasing. Showers developing around midday as westerlies change southerly. 14C high, 5C overnight.
Wellington A few showers, retreating to the south coast evening. Southerlies, strong in exposed places. 11C high, 7C overnight.
Nelson Fine apart from some morning cloud. Southeasterly developing. 13C high, 0C overnight.
Christchurch Drizzle clearing to afternoon fine spells. However, cloud increasing evening with a few showers. Southerly easing. 10C high, 4C overnight.
Dunedin Occasional morning drizzle, then fine spells. A few evening showers. Southerly dying out. 9C high, 6C overnight.
