Much of that wet weather was set to clear overnight, but showers will linger along eastern regions.
MetService meteorologist Alanna Burrows told the Herald much of the country would wake to “fine and frosty” conditions today.
A bitter southerly has brought frosts and single-digit temperatures nationwide. Photo / Ben Fraser
“It’s going to be chilly,” Burrows said.
“For Mt Cook, we’ve got a forecast of -9C, then it’s like 2C for Kaikōura, so it’s going to be a chilly morning.”
Taupō was forecast to fall to 0C, Hamilton and Rotorua to 4C, while Auckland and Wellington were both expected to start the day at around 6C.
Burrows said the bitterly cold air was being drawn from around 60 degrees south, near the Southern Ocean.
“It starts to change perhaps on Friday, but for most of the week, we’ve got a southerly flow drawing up those cold temperatures with frost expected overnight,” she said.
That southerly flow would also push showers on to eastern parts of the country.
Despite fine spells elsewhere, Burrows said daytime temperatures would remain low.
“It actually looks like most of the max temperatures are in the low teens for most places.”
Auckland was forecast to reach just 12C, after any isolated showers clear before dawn.
Wellington faced a cooler high of just 9C, with cloudy periods and occasional showers expected to clear later this afternoon.
Christchurch was forecast to reach 11C, with showers mainly around Banks Peninsula “clearing to fine” this morning and morning frosts also possible in sheltered places, Burrows said.
The week ahead is otherwise looking relatively settled, with high pressure in the Tasman Sea helping keep conditions mostly dry.
Eastern areas and the far south are most likely to see showers through to Thursday, before the flow turns more westerly on Friday.
Burrows said Thursday currently looked like the pick of the week.
“Those showers in the east are kind of easing off through Thursday and we also have some stronger southerly winds and they’ll be easing off on Thursday as well.
“So, lighter winds and drier weather. I think that’s probably the best day.”
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