Here’s what is making the weather headlines today…

🚨#Breaking: Tropical Cyclone #KEVIN becomes a Severe Category3⃣storm & is expected to now reach Cat4, just like Judy.

Kevin's tracking will take it close to #PortVila. Extraordinarily rare for the same city to be hit twice in a week by 2 Severe TCs. Globally, not just locally! pic.twitter.com/k4j4s7Agyc

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) March 2, 2023

ISOLATED THUNDER POSSIBLE CENTRAL PLATEAU

Some instability may form about higher parts of the Central North Island this afternoon, this thanks to converging winds and reasonable surface moisture / temperatures.

For any further information on today’s thunderstorm chances please check out Metservice’s thunderstorm risk charts here.

SHOWERS AND COOLER TEMPS ON THE WAY IN THE EAST

Southerlies move into the lower South Island this afternoon, reaching Canterbury this evening and then moving up the east coast of the North Island on Saturday.

Expect a few showers with these cooler southerlies, some rain possible for North Otago through into Canterbury later in the day.

And as mentioned yesterday, Nelson has a chance of some instability on Saturday afternoon, so does the Central North Island and ranges of Hawkes Bay / Gisborne.

Below are some temperature maps showing the warm highs about the eastern South Island today and how they drop tomorrow.

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CHANCE OF A FROST MONDAY MORNING NEXT WEEK?

It’s possible, only a light frost though.

As an anticyclone starts to push in over the country overnight Sunday and as southerlies ease over the South Island, some inland parts Canterbury southwards could be in for a light frost by dawn on Monday.