A front is expected to approach the far south of the South Island tonight, bringing rain to Fiordland. There is a low risk of elevated thunderstorms developing about central and southern Fiordland tonight. Elsewhere, no thunderstorms or significant convection is expected.

The front moves onto the lower South Island during Saturday morning, bringing rain to southern areas, especially in the west. There is a low risk of elevated thunderstorms about Fiordland and southern Westland as indicated on the chart. Elsewhere, no thunderstorms or significant convection is expected.

The front moves slowly northwards onto central parts of the South Island during the second half of Saturday, weakening as it does so. There is a low risk of elevated thunderstorms for southern Westland during Saturday afternoon. In the east, moisture convergences set up along eastern parts of South Canterbury and Otago behind the front during Saturday afternoon and evening and are likely to produce cloud build ups and showers. There is a low risk of thunderstorms for central Otago, Dunedin, North Otago and the far south of Canterbury High Country and coast and plains as indicated on the chart. The thunderstorm risk increases to moderate for the far south of Canterbury High Country, eastern parts of Central Otago and inland North Otago and Dunedin, and any thunderstorms that do develop will be accompanied by localised heavy rain of 10 to 20 mm/hr. Elsewhere, no thunderstorms or significant convection is expected.