Weather Workshop: Extended Forecast

The long range forecast from Weather Workshop for all of New Zealand to midnight Saturday.

Situation: A large, intense anticyclone over the central Tasman Sea is drifting slowly northeast and by the middle of Thursday should lie just north of the country. The high is expected to weaken Friday and slide further east allowing a trough to move onto the country. It should turn colder Saturday as the flow tips more southerly.

NORTHLAND, AUCKLAND, COROMANDEL PENINSULA, BAY of PLENTY/ROTORUA, WAIKATO, WAITOMO, TAUMARANUI, TARANAKI, TAIHAPE and TAUPO: Fine today and in most places tomorrow. Frosty again overnight, chiefly south of Auckland, also a few fogs likely. Cloudy periods from Taranaki southwards from later Wednesday. On Thursday, cloud more widespread in the west with light showers, elsewhere remaining fine. Rain becoming persistent from Waikato south during Friday, further north a few showers. From Bay of Plenty to Taupo remaining dry until late in the day. Showers in most areas Saturday.

WANGANUI and MANAWATU: Fine apart from a few cloudy periods today and tomorrow. Frosty again tonight. Cloudy on Thursday with light showers. Rain easing to showers later Friday then further showers Saturday.

GISBORNE, HAWKES BAY and WAIRARAPA: Remaining showers soon clearing from northern Gisborne, elsewhere fine and frosty. Fine again tomorrow and Thursday. Rain working into Wairarapa later Friday , further north remaining dry. Rain spreading elsewhere early Saturday then clearing from the south.

WELLINGTON: Fine today and tomorrow. Frosty again tonight. Cloudy on Thursday with a few light showers. A period of rain Friday with strong northerlies then a few showers Saturday.

NELSON: Fine and frosty up to Thursday then cloud increasing. A period of rain Friday, the odd shower Saturday.

MARLBOROUGH and CANTERBURY: Fine and frosty today and tomorrow. Cloudy on Thursday, rain spreading to the main divide later. Brief rain followed by a few showers Friday. Colder Saturday with a showery southwest change working north.

BULLER, WESTLAND and FIORDLAND: Showers about the fiords from this evening spreading as far as the glaciers later tomorrow. Elsewhere cloud increasing. Patchy rain in most places Thursday. Rain easing to showers during Friday. Further showers and colder Saturday.

OTAGO and SOUTHLAND: Cloudy about the south coast. A few showers there from early tomorrow. Inland fine and frosty today but rather cloudy and dry tomorrow. Patchy rain spreading from the west Thursday but eastern Otago should stay dry in northwest conditions. Widespread rain early Friday easing to showers and by the middle of the day these becoming confined to the coast. Showery and colder everywhere Saturday.

CHATHAM ISLANDS: Showery southwesterlies today and tomorrow. Cloudy and dry Thursday with westerly winds. Northwesterlies strengthening Friday with rain after dark. Futher rain Saturday.