A cold few days are setting in over the South Island and is about to briefly spread in to some parts of the North Island. An area of showery precipitation (snow above about 500 or 600m, falling as rain showers below) remains in the Upper South Island with rain showers in other coastal areas.

Southerly flows from the low pressure system now located off the eastern side of NZ will bring another burst of heavy snow over Kaikoura ranges in the next 24 hours (see the map below).

Temperatures will be significantly lower than usual in the South Island for the next few days ahead. Single digit daytime highs for some and overnight lows inland dropping below zero. The colder air flow will push into the lower half of the North Island on Tuesday and somewhat spread and fade out over the rest of the North Island.

By mid to late week milder westerlies return and by this weekend some areas will have mild sub-tropical north to north west winds.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz