A weakening weather front is expected to clear the North Island on Tuesday, and southwesterlies should ease, as a ridge of high pressure spreads over the country, says a MetService spokesperson.

The isolated showers for Northland and Auckland will be clearing, and easing in the east during the day, otherwise Tuesday will be fine across the North Island. In the South Island, the weather is also expected to be fine, apart from isolated showers in the west and south.

By Wednesday, August 14, the ridge of high pressure is expected to move onto the North Island, while a moist northwest flow builds over the South Island. This should be bringing rain to Fiordland.

There may also be isolated showers for Northland and Gisborne. 

"At this stage accumulations are not expected to become significant," says a MetService spokesperson.

Weather in the South Island on Wednesday is expected to be mainly fine, with isolated showers in the west, becoming widespread in Fiordland later.

"There is low confidence that northwest gales could become severe over parts of Fiordland, Southland and Clutha during the second half of the day."

During Thursday, a front embedded in the northwest flow is forecast to move onto Fiordland, bringing further rain with heavy falls.

"There is moderate confidence that rainfall accumulations could approach warning criteria over Fiordland and southernmost Westland."

The North Island is expected to have partly cloudy weather on Thursday, with isolated showers developing in the west. The South Island will also have mainly fine weather in the east from Canterbury northwards.

By Friday, the front will be moving northwards across the South Island, bringing further rain to western areas.

"There is low confidence of significant heavy rain for Fiordland at first, moderate confidence over Westland, and finally low confidence for Buller later."

In the North Island on Friday, the weather is expected to be partly cloudy with isolated showers in the west, turning to rain south of Auckland. In the South Island, rain will be spreading north, easing to showers later but clearing in the west.

Chatham Islands

Rain will be easing to showers on Tuesday, then showers becoming less frequent on Wednesday, and clearing on Thursday. Showers will return late on Friday. Gale southwesterly winds will ease on Tuesday, then turn northwesterly on Thursday.