Cold start across the nation

UPDATED

No matter where you are in New Zealand today the weather will start off cold, thanks to mostly clear skies brought in by an Anticyclone and a fading southerly.

The high, which is today centred over the country, has locked in the cooler weather brought up by the southerly during Sunday and Monday.

Coldest temperatures as of 7:30am...

• +3: Hawera, Dunedin, Hokitika, Lumsden
• +2: Gisborne, Palmerston North, Levin, Westport, Haast, Milford
• +1: Auckland, Hamilton, Whitianga, Paeroa, Whakatane, Rotorua, Paraparaumu, Lower Hutt.
•  0:  Napier, Nelson, Blenheim, Timaru
• -1:  Hastings, Christchurch
• -2:  Taupo Wanaka, Queenstown
• -3:  Waiouru

Frosty conditions are forecast in sheltered places this morning from Southland to sheltered parts around Auckland says WeatherWatch.co.nz, but it will be short lived. 

The next low - a large one coming from eastern Australia - is due to bring in cloud cover and northerlies to Southland and the West Coast by tonight. 

Tomorrow those warmer winds will shift northwards becoming gusty around central and eastern areas will rain moves up the South Island's west coast, to reach the North Island on Friday.

Milder weather is expected for most regions from Thursday until at least Monday says WeatherWatch.