The rain that has been persistent on the West Coast of the South Island finally spilled over to eastern areas yesterday and overnight.
A cold southerly outbreak with rain and a few localised heavy falls from Southland to parts of Marlborough, saw the thermometers dive. Snow has fallen above 700 metres in some areas of Canterbury and Otago which has left much of the mainland very cool this morning.

Timaru is just 4 degrees after a decent fall of rain yesterday afternoon. A string of 7 and 8 degree readings are littering other eastern areas this morning.

Another band of showers or rain is forecast today with a sou’ wester freshning and temperatures remaining generally below par for January.