UPDATED
While spring has arrived early this year the country is in for a realty check after enjoying warmer than average weather lately.  A large high moving in from the Tasman Sea will create a strengthening south to south east flow over the country developing Thursday and lasting until Sunday.

The change to southerlies will see a big drop in temperatures for some regions which have recently seen temperatures in the low to mid 20s – and it’s started in the South Island this morning

As of 9:30am it was almost snowing in Invercargill with just 3 degrees, heavy rain and showers, thunderstorms and a near gale westerly gusting to 80.

As string of centres are on 3 degrees across Southland and Otago with the southerly in Dunedin keeping it at just 4 this hour.

So, what’s coming up?   Napier and Hastings have enjoyed highs up to 24 degrees but by Thursday the expected high is just 12 with 11 possible on Friday.  In Auckland humid highs in the late teens will fall to the cooler levels, just reaching about 14 or 15 from Friday through until Sunday.

Wanganui and Kaikoura, who have both taken the national high over the past week or so, will be lucky to even reach the teens while Wellington, Dunedin and Invercargill will all struggle to make double digits with just 9 or 10 their highs on Thursday.

However despite the drop in temperatures, with overnight lows in places like Taupo falling to below zero, widespread frosts aren’t predicted.  Winds should be too strong in most places for heavy frosts to form but sheltered places may see some ice on Friday or Saturday morning.

Warmer weather is expected to return on Sunday or Monday – typical spring weather.