KEY POINTS:
Winter will tighten its icy grip this week, the MetService says.
Spokesman Bob McDavitt said northern and eastern areas of the North Island would have sunshine today, followed by rain tomorrow and Thursday.
The heaviest rain was likely to be in the eastern Bay of Plenty and Gisborne area on Thursday morning.
A cold and squally southwesterly wind flow would hit the South Island on Thursday, bringing snow to parts of Southland and Otago.
This polar air would blow over the North Island on Friday and Saturday, taking wind chill levels to below freezing.
