Arthur Gunn and a very reluctant Kate Lin, both of Dunedin, at the Polar Plunge today. Photo/Gregor Richardson
Arthur Gunn and a very reluctant Kate Lin, both of Dunedin, at the Polar Plunge today. Photo/Gregor Richardson
Rug up warmly tonight - the skies are clearing and it's set to get very cold for the start of the working week.
Fine weather in sheltered parts of the country will see overnight lows hovering just above freezing and it will only get colder on Monday night, particularly in inland areas.
Today was showery in many parts, but it was fairly dry in the lower South Island - cold comfort for swimmers who braved the water at Dunedin's annual Polar Plunge today.
About 300 people - some keener than others - took the plunge in water temperatures of 7C to raise money for the St Clair Surf Lifesaving Club.
A few showers are still hanging around in the north but they are expected to drift out to sea, tagging along behind a low that's moving off to the east coast of the North Island.
MetService meteorologist Josh Griffin said the last of the rain was easing this evening and overnight in most areas.
"That will give a bit of clearance which will help the ground to let off a lot of its stored heat, so temperatures are going to be getting quite low tonight," he said.
Frost is expected in much of the South Island overnight, with Timaru down to 2C and Queenstown down to -3C.
More sheltered and inland parts of the North Island can also expect a cold snap, with the coldest temperatures expected in the Waikato. Hamilton has a forecast low of 2C tonight and -1C on Monday night, while Taupo will hover around 0C, Rotorua at 1C and Taumarunui at -2C on Monday, Griffin said.
"It's definitely going to be quite chilly."
L-R Sophie Larwood, Amelia Kirk and Sophie Silcock, all 13, were among 300 people who braved Dunedin's waters. Photo/ODT
The east of the North Island could still see showers this evening, with Tauranga temperatures dipping to 5C and Napier to 6C. Auckland will have a low of 9C this evening but by Monday night it could get down to 5C, according to the MetService.
Griffin said some snow showers were possible this evening in the South Island but most would clear out as the low moved off.
There is an upside - most of the country can expect sunny periods tomorrow and over the rest of the week.
"There will be some showers for the North Island about the coast, mainly in Hawke's Bay, Gisborne and places like that, but inland is looking fine," Griffin said.
Gisborne and Hawke's Bay could also see showers on Tuesday, and there may be light rain in Northland later in the day, but elsewhere should be fine.
Rain and showers are also expected on Wednesday around the Bay of Plenty and occasionally in Gisborne and the Hawke's Bay, but the rest of the North Island can again expect sunny spells.
WEATHER FORECAST
WHANGAREI: Monday: Long fine spells. Southwesterlies dying out evening. 15C Tuesday: Mainly fine, few afternoon showers. Light winds. 16C
NAPIER: Monday: Cloudy periods, a few showers. Southerlies. 13C Tuesday: Cloudy periods, chance shower. Light winds. 14C
WELLINGTON Monday: The odd morning shower, then fine. Southerlies turn northerly in evening. 11C Tuesday: Becoming cloudy in the morning. Northerlies. 12C
