WeatherWatch advise that a cold southwesterly airflow will ease over New Zealand today.

A ridge of high pressure will be developing this evening, says weather analyst Aaron Wilkinson.

For Northland, Auckland, Waikato and the Bay Of Plenty, there will be heavy showers with possible isolated thunder. This should be clearing later, with some sun breaking through.

Early showers are expected across the Waikato, which will clear, with the remainder of the day remaining mostly sunny. Southwesterly winds will gradually ease. The temperature across the Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions is expected to reach a high of 15-16 degrees.

For the rest of the country, the WeatherWatch report is as follows:

Western North Island (including Central North Island)
Morning showers, possibly heavy with small hail then clearing in the afternoon and sun increasing. Breezy south to southeasterly winds die out in the evening.
Highs: 10-13

Eastern North Island
Showers, possibly heavy with small hail, easing from afternoon then clearing in the evening. Fresh cold southwesterly winds.
Highs: 11-13

Wellington
Morning showers clear, afternoon sun may break through otherwise mostly cloudy. Fresh southerly winds.
High: 10

Marlborough & Nelson
Morning cloud breaks to sunny spells for Marlborough, any morning showers clear. Cool southerlies. Nelson has a mostly sunny morning then some cloud develops in the afternoon as light southerlies tend northeast.
Highs: 12-14

Canterbury
Morning showers, possibly heavy with hail (especially inland) then easing and clearing. Some snow to 400m before clearing. Afternoon sun breaks through. Cold southwesterly winds.
Highs: 8-10

West Coast
Sunny, light winds tend south to southeast.
Highs: 13-15

Southland & Otago
Cloudy areas about Southland, the odd shower. Morning cloud breaks to sunny spells for Otago, any morning showers about the coast clear. Westerly winds.
Highs: 9-10