Severe thunderstorms may hit Dunedin, North Otago and Clutha this afternoon bringing heavy rain and hail as large as 20mm to some areas, MetService warns.

Summer is hitting full force, with temperatures rising above 27C north of Auckland and farmers bracing for drought.

A wet countdown to 2015 is in store for most, with forecasters predicting rain across the country on New Year's Eve.

Around 30 flights were delayed and three were cancelled as fog caused disruption at Auckland Airport this morning.

The country has had the coolest start to summer in almost a decade. Temperatures around the main cities on Monday were well below the median for the past decade.

Blustery winds will continue to whip parts of the country during the last official week of spring, MetService says.

The stormy spring weather will continue over the weekend, with severe winds and rain forecast for parts of the country.

Fears about weather chaos over the North Island have eased this afternoon with the Metservice lifting a dozen severe weather warnings.

Heavy rain over the top of the country during the weekend could cause high river levels, flooding and slips, forecasters warn.

TV One's weather stalwart Jim Hickey will soon have a new colleague in the weather room, as former MetService forecaster Daniel Corbett joins the team.

Snow has fallen to low levels in the South overnight, forcing the closure of many schools and prompting calls for care by motorists.

Gale-force winds are hammering the lower South Island this morning as a front moves over the country, bringing a cold change that is likely to dump snow to sea level.

The hail that painted Auckland white may not be over just yet.

The last month of winter could be more like spring, with warmer, windier weather, forecasters say.

It could be time to peel off some of the winter layers this week as temperatures look set to rise - even topping 20C in some areas.

The Maori Language Commission says that it has approached TVNZ, TV3 and the MetService about using the Maori word for "tomorrow" in future weather broadcasts.

The country will continue to shiver today as a south westerly flow ripples up the country, MetService says.

At least a dozen families were in a welfare centre last night after one of the longest and most damaging storms in years lashed the country.

Tonight will be the third cold night without power for thousands of households as more stormy conditions continue to batter the top of the North Island.

Thousands of people are still without power across the north following a severe storm which battered the country over the past two days.

People in the upper North Island will need a jacket and umbrella as wet weather sweeps the country this week.

Auckland motorists travelling on low lying sections of the city's motorway network tonight are being warned to beware of flooding due to a king tide and strong winds.

Thought it was chilly this morning? You weren't wrong. Temperatures plummeted overnight - and this time the North Island got the worst of the winter blast.

Severe rain and wind warnings and a drop in temperatures have been issued for parts of the South Island and lower North Island this weekend.