4:45pm Friday — Severe frosts and black ice are again in the picture for New Zealand tonight and across the weekend as skies continue to clear following our Antarctic blast.

Head Weather Analyst Philip Duncan says again it will be extremely cold in Southland, Otago and Central Plateau with severe frosts expected. 

“With little wind and cloud any warmth from the day disappears at night and the coldest air sinks down into the valleys.  Some areas overnight will be dropping below -10 tonight in the lower and central South Island” he said again today.

Mr Duncan says frosty conditions will stretch from Southland to Northland with severe frosts in the south and light to heavy frosts in the north.

“With so much snow melt and wet roads there is an extremely high risk of black ice on Saturday morning – and that risk will become more widespread over the next day or two as this high slowly pushes in and the showers in the east clear”.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says even areas with cloud and nearby showers may have frosts – such as Canterbury.  Showers are expected to clear in Canterbury overnight and during Saturday morning.

Frosts are less likely on the North Island’s east coast from Wellington to Gisborne due to showers and brisk winds.

Heavy to severe frosts are also expected from inland Taranaki to King Country and Waikato.

Drivers in both islands are advised to drive with extreme caution due to the risk of black ice, especially in valleys.

– Homepage image – File, Lake Pearson / Francis Vallance

– WeatherWatch.co.nz