Cold snap continues before front moves in on Thursday

- Frosty mornings continue through the first half of the week, especially across the North Island.
- Many North Island centres recorded their coldest temperatures of the year on Monday morning.
- Overnight lows become less severe later this week as northerly winds develop.
- Rain reaches the South Island from Thursday before cooler southwesterlies return.

Cold, frosty mornings are set to continue across much of New Zealand through the first half of this week, with many North Island locations waking to their coldest temperatures of the year so far on Monday.

Hamilton fell to -2.8°C, Rotorua to -3.9°C, Taupō to -5.6°C, New Plymouth to 0.0°C,
Masterton to -4.4°C, Levin to -2.6°C, Porirua to -2.7°C, Wellington to 1.7°C, while Christchurch reached -4.7°C.

MetService Meteorologist Devlin Lynden says, “The cold start is being driven by clear skies and light winds. With calm, clear nights, heat escapes easily into the atmosphere, allowing temperatures to plummet before sunrise. Sheltered inland valleys become even frostier as cold air settles into low-lying areas."

The North Island will remain largely settled through Wednesday under mostly clear skies. Another cold start is expected on Tuesday morning, although overnight temperatures will gradually become less severe as northerly winds develop later in the week.

The South Island has also seen frosty mornings, although increasing northerly winds have prevented temperatures from dropping quite as low in many areas. However, frosts do persist. Those winds strengthen through Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of a front, which will put a cap on overnight low temperatures, signalling a change in the weather toward the latter half of the week.

Rain is expected to reach the western South Island on Thursday as a front moves onto the country, with showers spreading elsewhere as it crosses. Behind the front, cooler southwesterly winds return, bringing another drop in temperatures and the potential for snow to affect ski fields and alpine passes.

Keep up to date with the latest forecasts, Warnings & Watches at metservice.com.