![Brace for a chilly weekend](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
Brace for a chilly weekend
Blustery gales have knocked out power to 1600 properties in the Wairarapa today.
Blustery gales have knocked out power to 1600 properties in the Wairarapa today.
The El Nino weather event predicted to dump rain on the West Coast this year could actually help the rapidly retreating glaciers, according to a scientist.
A brief hail storm that covered the ground in Whangarei seemed to come out of nowhere, said a long-time resident.
Dozens of residents in pockets around Auckland remain without hot water following last week's bruising storm, while 500 homes on the West Coast still have no power.
Auckland residents who went without hot water for four days can finally take warm showers again, but some remain upset at how the issue has been handled.
Some Auckland residents have made a cold and dirty start to the long weekend, after being without hot water since Thursday night.
Local residents who assisted in retrieving a stranded truck containing the bodies of two men in the Eastern Bay of Plenty have been praised by the regional council.
NZ Herald readers send in their best pics of the weather currently soaking New Zealand.
Santa could find himself fighting gale force winds in some areas tonight before rain heralds in Christmas Day for much of the country.
Most of the country is in for unsettled, cooler weather on Christmas Day as a wet front makes its way up the country.
It was hot, sunny and humid - and for some thunderstorms came almost out of nowhere in the day of extremes that hit the upper North Island yesterday.
The summer-like weather is set to fade this week with rain forecast for much of the upper North Island from tomorrow.
The weekend will be at least partly wet for most of the country, forecasters said this morning.
Parts of the North Island are being warned to brace for possible slips and surface flooding as a low brings rain to much of the country today.
Boulders weighing up to 200 tonnes have blocked access to Milford Sound as galeforce winds and driving rain sweep across the country.
The weather is set to be calmer in Bay of Plenty after last night's twister - but the South Island is about to be hit by snow in some areas.