More cold, wet weather for North and South Islands this weekend

Lucy Robertson (left) and her grandmother Anne Robertson of Tapanui in the snow Monday. Photo / Peter McIntosh, Otago Daily Times

The snowy cold snap that enveloped much of the South Island has given way to warmer temperatures today, with high winds and thunderstorms a risk in some parts of the country.

Sunny skies are on the way for both islands tomorrow, but not for long -- more cold, wet weather is in store for the weekend.

WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan said temperatures would warm up over the next couple of days, with temperatures in the late teens to early 20s.

Temperatures would continue to climb tomorrow as the cold front moved off to the east, and a high moved in bringing dry weather and warmer nor'westers.

But temperatures would fall again as rain moved in from the south from Friday, Mr Duncan said.

Tomorrow a ridge pushing over the South Island was expected to bring a frosty start, MetService said.

And the weather will take another turn for the worse in time for the weekend, when a front and associated low are expected to move northward up the country, bringing heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms to the South Island on Friday and the North Island on Saturday.

Weather for the main centres:

Auckland:

Today: Showers, some heavy with hail, chance of thunder. High 19C, low 11C.

Tomorrow: Fine, southwesterlies. High 20C, low 13C.

Hamilton:

Today: Showers, some heavy with hail, chance of thunder. High 19C, low 5C.

Tomorrow: Fine, morning frost. High 19C, low 9C.

Tauranga:

Today: Mainly fine, afternoon showers. High 19C, low 7C.

Tomorrow: Fine, southerlies dying out. High 20C, low 10C.

Wellington:

Today: Mainly fine, southwesterly strong in exposed places. High 13C, low 10C.

Tomorrow: Mainly fine, chance of morning shower. High 15C, low 10C.

Christchurch:

Today: Showers clearing this afternoon. High 14C, low 3C.

Tomorrow: Fine, southwesterly dying out. High 15C, low 1C.

Dunedin:

Today: Cloudy, the odd shower. High 12C, low 7C.

Tomorrow: Fine, light winds. High 14C, low 6C.

Source: Metservice.com.