Unseasonable temperatures to creep up slowly

File photo / NZ Herald

Temperatures are expected to creep up during the next few days after an unseasonably cold start to the year.

WeatherWatch said the weather has felt more like spring than early January, as cooler and cloudier conditions spread across the country today.

Temperatures were well below average in many regions, mainly in the east and south of both islands, but also in Auckland and Northland.

The hottest region was the Bay of Plenty, where temperatures climbed into the mid-20s, but Wellington, Hamilton and Auckland all failed to top 20degC.

The South Island also had an unseasonably cold spell, with temperatures in parts of Otago, Canterbury and Southland failing to top 12degC.

The country was expected to warm up by a couple of degrees tomorrow, with warmer weather slowly creeping back during the next few days.

A high will bring drier conditions early this week, but will also bring southerly winds and a few showers, mostly to the upper half of the North Island.

The gradual return of sunnier weather was expected to reach the South Island first before creeping up north.

WeatherWatch predicted no real change in the overall situation for at least two weeks, with a sub-tropical low expected in about 10 days.