Expect more cold, wet weather after a night of freezing temperatures

Name: Watch: Polar blast leaves winter coat
Uploaded: 2016-08-07T15:34:01+12:00
Duration: 89 s
Description: New Zealand last night hunkered down for the big chill - with rugby fans battling sub-zero temperatures at the Super Rugby final and skiers on Mt Ruapehu taking refuge from hurricane-force winds. A polar blast made its presence felt over much of the country and was expected to worsen overnight, with more snow, rain and heavy winds.

By Lincoln Tan

Multimedia Journalist·NZ Herald·

6 Aug, 2016 07:55 PM3 mins to read

New Zealand last night hunkered down for the big chill - with rugby fans battling sub-zero temperatures at the Super Rugby final and skiers on Mt Ruapehu taking refuge from hurricane-force winds. A polar blast made its presence felt over much of the country and was expected to worsen overnight, with more snow, rain and heavy winds.

After a night of freezing temperatures, heavy rain and snow, forecasters are predicting more of the same today.

The low pressure system over the North Island, which brought rain to central parts of New Zealand and snow to low levels in eastern parts of Kaikoura Coast to south Gisborne is moving slowly eastwards out to sea.

Philip Duncan from WeatherWatch predicted another very cold day throughout the whole country.

Image 1 of 14: Snowmen in Methven. Photo / Chris Woods

"We are going to see these big southerlies...roaring in and dropping the temperatures down," Duncan said.

"But there is one positive. As the wind flows turn more southeast, thing could become very sunny (in some areas)."

Auckland will get a fine start before a few showers from afternoon as southerly eases, according to MetService.

Aucklanders will enjoy a double digit high of 11C today, but the mercury is expected to fall to a cold 4C overnight.

Late Monday, a front from the Tasman Sea should reach the top of the North Island and move slowly across Northland on Tuesday and early Wednesday.

The associated front will bring more rain to the north of the North Island.

"There is a low risk of warning amounts of rain from Coromandel Peninsula across Great Barrier Island to eastern Northland on Tuesday and Wednesday," MetService said.
"The ridge over the South Island strengthens on Monday and persists through to Wednesday."

Heavy snow warnings have been lifted in the central North Island, but several major highways remain closed after a big weekend dumping of the white stuff.

Image 1 of 14: Snowmen in Methven. Photo / Chris Woods

MetService says snowfalls have eased in inland Hawke's Bay this morning and the warnings for that area and eastern Taihape and Taupo are no longer in place.

But both State Highway 1 through the Desert Road and the Napier-Taupo Road remain closed due to snow, while flooding has closed SH2 from Tutira to Wairoa. It's been a cold start for many across the country, with temperature lows below -7C reported at Dunedin Airport, Lumsden and Fairlie.

While the skies are cleaning, Metservice is warning that could mean severe frosts to many areas on Sunday night.

A few hundred people in rural areas around Taupo were still without power this morning and lines company Unison was working as quickly as it could to restore electricity.