It's spring, but winter won't quit

This satellite image shows the red dust that blew across New South Wales mixing with heavy cloud over the Tasman. Photo / NASA

It's spring, and the clocks are about to go forward, but weather extremes have brought torrential rain around Auckland and snow in the lower North Island.

The extreme cold hit Manawatu, with snow falling in Dannevirke, Woodville and Norsewood. The region also had heavy rain and temperatures down to 3C.

But further north, tropical conditions brought isolated thunderstorms, torrential rain and temperatures in the late teens.

Thunderstorms and rain are expected across the North Island again today, says Met Service Weather ambassador Bob McDavitt.

But don't bother looking out for a red-tinged sandstorm.

"The front that carried the sand across Sydney is the one that crossed Auckland yesterday evening," he said.

"Much of the sand is probably still in the Tasman Sea."

Met Service forecasters expect the rain to clear by Sunday.