Long Range Weather

Issued by MetService on Thursday 08-Jan-2026 at 11:50am

Now the MetService long range forecast for all New Zealand to midnight Monday

The Situation

A slow moving ridge of high pressure lies over the North Island, while a weakening front over the lower South Island moves to central New Zealand tomorrow.

Looking at the weather to midnight tomorrow

Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Taihape and Manawatu, also Gisborne to Wairarapa

Fine apart from isolated showers this afternoon and evening, mainly inland, some heavy and possibly thundery about eastern Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne.

The remainder of the North Island, also Marlborough and Nelson

Fine, apart from a few cloudy areas in the morning and evening, with patchy drizzle over the higher grounds north of Wellington tomorrow.

Buller to Westland

Cloudy periods and the odd shower, turning to rain about Westland and Grey this afternoon, possibly heavy. Rain easing for a time tomorrow.

Canterbury

Mainly fine, with the odd shower mainly in the afternoon or evening.

Otago and Southland

Cloudy periods. Scattered rain developing this afternoon, then clearing in the morning.

Fiordland

Rain with heavy falls. Thunderstorms possible from evening. Rain eases to showers in the morning, then clears.

Chatham Islands

Mainly fine. Low cloud and the odd shower developing this evening, clearing tomorrow.

And the outlook for the following three days...

Saturday

North Island: Cloudy periods with isolated showers in the west, mainly fine elsewhere. South Island: Rain in the west and south, with some heavy falls. A few spots of rain elsewhere.

Sunday

North Island: Cloudy periods with isolated showers in the west, mainly fine elsewhere. South Island: Rain spreading north, with some heavy falls, easing to showers in the south later.

Monday

North Island: Rain spreads north, then clears in the west and south late, easing to a few showers elsewhere. South Island: Rain in the north, clearing early. Isolated showers elsewhere, clearing and retreating to Fiordland coasts.

And at the Chathams

Cloudy periods with rain developing Saturday afternoon, clearing overnight. Mainly fine Sunday, with showers developing early Monday. Light winds Saturday. Strong northwesterlies developing Sunday, turning southwest early Monday then easing later.

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