Rain, rain go away - NZ set for wet, cold Sunday

A cold front is moving northeast across the North Island today while a narrow ridge settles on to the South Island. Photo / Michael Craig

Showers will keep most of the country wet today, with snow expected in Canterbury to bring an extra chill to winter.

A cold front is moving northeast across the North Island today while a narrow ridge settles on to the South Island.

Metservice expects snow down to 500m in Canterbury, along with rain.

Both should clear by the afternoon, and the region will become fine for the rest of the day.

From Northland to Taranaki there will be showers, becoming widespread and heavy for a time later this morning.

They should ease off by evening.

From Whanganui to Kapiti Coast and around the Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and central high country, scattered showers will develop this morning.

They will become heavy in western areas but should ease this evening.

The Metservice rain radar as at 8.51am today

Wellington, Wairarapa and Marlborough will not escape the downpours, with showers spreading north this morning. They should ease tonight.

Otago, Southland and Fiordland will have a fine morning but showers will linger around coastal areas.

According to MetService Tauranga has the warmest temperature so far today with 13.3 degrees and Wanaka the coldest with an icy 0.5 degrees.

Christchurch is the wettest centre, recording 3.4mm of rain overnight and the windiest is Kaikoura with 40km gusts.