A large trough covers the country, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to many places. Several of the current Warnings and Watches extend into Friday, and are reflected by the high and moderate confidence areas on this chart.

Apart from areas already covered by the Warnings and Watches, there is low confidence that rainfall warnings will also be required for the central North Island, eastern Bay of Plenty, the Tararua Range and Fiordland. There is moderate confidence that northwest winds about the Marlborough Sounds, Wellington and southern Wairarapa will reach warning strength. For Stewart Island and the south coast of the South Island, there is low confidence that severe gale westerlies will be experienced.

Also, there is low confidence that northerly winds about the Chatham Islands will reach warning strength.

A narrow ridge should move onto the country in the morning. Late in the day a low is expected to be approaching the northern South Island from the west.

There is low confidence that warning amounts of rain will fall about the eastern ranges of the Bay of Plenty during the morning. About the Chatham Islands, there is low confidence that severe gale northerlies will continue into the morning.

A low is expected to move onto central New Zealand during the day.

There is low confidence that a rainfall warning will be needed for the western Tasman District.

As one low passes to east of central New Zealand, another low is expected to approach the South Island.

There is low confidence that warning amounts of rain will fall in Fiordland and southern Westland.