Some New Zealanders are in for a big drop on the temperature gauge as a cold front moves up the country, bringing overnight temperatures as low as 2degC.
That same system has been wreaking havoc on the South Island's West Coast, dumping 153mm of rain in Milford Sound over the past 12 hours.
Further north, Franz Josef received 80mm and on the other side of the island gale-force northwesterlies ripped through Canterbury with gusts of 100km/h recorded in Le Bons Bay.
Heavy rain and wind warnings are being lifted this morning in the South Island as the front works its way into the North Island this afternoon, Metservice meteorologist Josh Griffin said.
It will weaken as it moves north but there will be showers spreading through the day.
Strong northwesterlies will precede the front, with relatively warm temperatures, before a big drop with the colder southwest change.
Napier will go from a high of 28C today to 18C tomorrow.
Queenstown and Alexandra are in for a chilly night tonight with lows of 2degC forecast.
With clear skies also forecast there was a chance of frost, Griffin said.
On Saturday a high lies over the South Island, and an east to southeasterly flows cover the North Island.
The high will build over much of the country during the weekend, bringing fine weather for most places.
The upper North Island can expect a few showers, and Northland may get some rain courtesy of the remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Linda.
The storm, which reached Category 1 cyclone level on Wednesday, formed to the northeast of Queensland and brought dangerous waves to parts of Australia's East Coast.
"But that ridge of high pressure should keep the effects [of Linda] largely to the north of the country," Griffin said.
