Kiwis wake to sub-zero temperatures, 57 hours of rain for Northland

Many Kiwis are waking up to sub-zero temperatures this morning.

• New Zealand is waking up to temperatures well into the negative this morning.
• Northland is under a 57-hour rain watch, but may not see rain the entire time.
• Those headed to the Warriors game at Go Media Stadium tonight will not need to bring an umbrella, but a few extra layers are advised.

Those living in the South Island are waking to sub-zero conditions after temperatures across the country plunged overnight.

The cold weather is associated with the polar vortex swirling over Antarctica.

It is as low as -8.9C in Mount Cook and -3C in Blenheim and Queenstown.

The country’s highest temperatures are currently in the north, with Whangārei on 13C and Kaitaia on 11C.

Another chilly start today 🥶🌇

The ridge of high pressure over most of the country is keeping skies clear and temperatures low for most. Up in the north, rain and cloud have trapped the heat in overnight, letting a few double digits sneak in. pic.twitter.com/YFfEygRKeV

— MetService (@MetService) August 1, 2024

MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker said they expected it to be “colder than usual” this morning – and the cold temperatures are set to stick around.

Bakker said the lowest temperature that “people are actually close to” is Alexandra with -5.2C, closely rivalled by Queenstown which is hovering around -4C.

“Nearly all of the South Island main centres can expect freezing nights, with only Dunedin and Westport remaining above zero for the next few days.”

Thick snow has been falling in the South Island this week, blocking many vital highways but also leaving ski fields with a “decent dumping”.

Bakker urged those travelling to the ski fields to take extra care on the roads, as the lower temperatures will cause ice on the road to stick around for longer.

Mt Hutt skifield workers clear snow for access around the facilities after a heavy dump of snow. Photo / Nicole Hawke

For some areas of the South Island, the chilly conditions are expected to last through the weekend.

“While Kaikōura’s forecast minimum temperature of -2C isn’t the lowest around, that’s eight degrees lower than its average at this time of year,” Bakker said.

He said the temperatures are colder than usual for this time of year owing to a “sudden stratospheric warming” (SSW) event – a rare phenomenon that has only been observed three times in the satellite era in the Southern Hemisphere.

🔴 Anomalies from the recent stratospheric warming are propagating downward & affecting tropospheric weather patterns in the Southern Hemisphere 🔴

Very high pressure is forecast over Antarctica, which will culminate in a cold start to August for New Zealand & western Australia. https://t.co/CSLAqZWT21 pic.twitter.com/z1w99LtSXi

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) July 30, 2024

This is combined with a ridge of high pressure clearing the skies overnight.

“So there’s a lot of heat loss happening overnight.”

He said Northland has much higher temperatures, sitting in the low teens, due to the 57 hours of rain which will begin this morning.

A heavy rain watch has been placed over the area from 9am until 6pm on Sunday.

Thick snow fell on the South Island this week.

“[There is not] necessarily going to be rain for that entire period … it is just that the [weather] system will be hanging around,” Bakker said.

He said there is a low risk of the wet weather moving downwards to Auckland and the Coromandel, both of which may see a few showers over the weekend.

Those heading to the Warriors game against the Eels at Go Media Stadium tonight may not need an umbrella but would be wise to dress appropiately for the chilly weather.

“It’s not going to be terribly warm, but compared to the rest of the country, it will be positively toasty.”

Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. She has worked for the Herald since 2022.