Weather: Coldest blast yet expected next week

Early next week, cold air could cover more of the North Island, bringing snow to higher roads. Photo / Thinkstock

Two big weather systems will bang both ends of New Zealand this weekend and the year's coldest blast yet is expected early next week.

MetService said the sunniest skies this weekend will likely be in the middle of the country, as rain and strong winds strike the north, and a polar blast brings snow to the south.

MetService said a low pressure system from the Tasman Sea will hit Northland and the Coromandel Peninsula on Saturday, bringing rain and strong winds to places as far south as Ruapehu.

Meanwhile, snow in Otago and Southland was forecast to reach altitudes as low as 200m above sea level.

"This is likely to make driving conditions hazardous and will be disruptive to travel, possibly including Dunedin residents trying to get to work on Monday morning," MetService meteorologist Stephen Glassey said.

Early next week, cold air could cover more of the North Island, bringing snow to higher roads.

In the South Island, the snow level should gradually rise over the South Island but temperatures will probably remain in single digits for most places.

"This will be the coldest outbreak New Zealand has experienced so far this year," Mr Glassey warned.