As a nation Tuesday is the wettest day of the week as nearly three quarters of the country are in for some rain or showers of various descriptions.

The wind will also be a factor for much of the North Island and north and eastern areas of the South Island during today as well.

"It won't be a day to remember for most of us and the wind will make it more unpleasant in many cases" says weather analyst Richard Green.
"Snow is also falling to quite low levels in eastern areas of the Mainland and the lower North Island which is good news for those skifields opening up over the next few weeks and obviously more is needed across the central North island but there's a chance today and tomorrow".

Coldest temperatures are today and Wednesday in the southerly flow starting to tackle the country and although much of the South Island will clear tomorrow the North island will be in for a wet start.

Westland and Fiordland could be the places to be today and tomorrow much of the South Island should see sunshine we're thinking.
 

 

-WeatherWatch

Tuesday Night
A deep low over the Tasman Sea is expected to move east over the upper North Island tonight, with a couple of active rainbands expected to move over northern areas today and Wednesday. Rain over the upper South Island, is expected to intensify for a time from afternoon and spread north over the lower North Island, with south to southeast gales developing by evening. Temperatures are expected to lower over northeastern parts of the South Island, with snow expected to lower to about 400 to 500 metres. Significant accumulations are likely above 500 metres about the ranges of north Canterbury, Marlborough,and the Nelson Lakes National Park during this afternoon and evening. Meanwhile, a couple of active bands of rain are expected to move over the upper North Island today and early Wednesday, bringing some heavy falls and possible thunderstorms from Northland through to the Bay of Plenty. The strong southerlies are expected to spread over much of the North Island during Wednesday, as the low moves away east.