Rain, hail expected for start of summer

Summer will not be off to a fine start, with rain and even hail forecast for much of the country tomorrow.

Showers that have hit Auckland, Christchurch and the west of the South Island today will continue through until tomorrow, MetService duty meteorologist Philippa Murdoch said.

"A cold southwesterly is forecast for tomorrow but things will ease a little by Tuesday, and then we are back into some rain developing and drizzle later in the week."

Ms Murdoch said fairly cold temperatures forecast for tomorrow could bring hail for some, particularly those in the west of the South Island and central parts of the country.

"As we go later into the week it will be mainly fine on Tuesday with a few showers still lingering in the east and south of the North Island, but it will be mainly fine everywhere else."

Ms Murdoch said cloud would begin to develop again over the west of the North Island on Wednesday, but it would be mainly fine in most other areas.

"Some rain will begin to develop in Fiordland on Wednesday and that rain will spread north up the South Island during Thursday, mainly in the west, but there will also be some scattered falls in the east.

"There will also be some drizzle developing in the central North Island on Thursday."

She said rain in the west of the South Island would begin to ease again by Friday. The south of the North Island could expect some drizzle, but it would be fine elsewhere.

MIXED START TO SUMMER:

Auckland:

Monday -- Fine spells and a few showers. Fresh southwesterlies. High 17C Low 9C

Tuesday -- Mainly fine. Southwesterlies dying away. High 19C Low 9C

Wednesday -- Fine with light winds and sea breezes. High 20C Low 11C

Hamilton:

Monday -- Showers, heavy in the afternoon with a chance of hail. Westerly then late Southerly. High 16C Low 4C

Tuesday -- Fine with light winds. High 20C Low 4C

Wednesday -- Fine with light winds. High 20C Low 7C

Tauranga:

Monday -- Showers, some heavy in the afternoon with hail. Westerly easing. High 18C Low 7C

Tuesday -- Fine with southerly breezes. High 20C Low 9C

Wednesday -- Fine with light winds and sea breezes. High 21C Low 10C

Wellington:

Monday -- Showers, some heavy with hail. Fresh cold southerlies. High 12C Low 8C

Tuesday -- A few showers, clearing in the afternoon. Dying southerly. High 13C Low 8C

Wednesday -- Cloudy periods. Northerlies developing. High 17C Low 12C

Christchurch:

Monday -- Showers with a chance of hail in the morning which will ease in the evening. Cold southwesterly. High 13C Low 6C

Tuesday -- Showers clearing early, then fine. Dying southerlies. High 16C Low 4C

Wednesday -- Increasing high cloud. Northeasterlies developing. High 21C Low 9C

(Source: MetService)