Forecasters are warning of snow and hail as temperatures dip in some areas today, and a damp start to the second week of the holidays is on the way.
An unsettled period of weather is looming with showers forecast for most of the country over the coming days as a strong, cold southwest flow covers New Zealand.
The southwesterly is expected to hang over the country until mid-week, and most places will feel the blow of brisk winds.
Later in the week a trough is forecast to cross the South Island before moving up through the North Island.
View of showery southwest flow over the country from space https://t.co/rcECVupmWY ^PL pic.twitter.com/8I5oyuJD7E
— MetService (@MetService) July 17, 2016
For the immediate future the sun won't disappear entirely, but showers and southwesterly winds will sweep across the country.
Auckland can expect cloudy periods today and some sun with a few showers, especially from the afternoon onwards, with southwest winds. Isolated thunderstorms and hail are expected just south of Auckland. Temperatures will drop to 10C overnight with a high of 16C today.
Bay of Plenty and Gisborne should be fine with cloudy periods, with showers possible from later in the day. Overnight the temperature is tipped to fall to 7C.
Tauranga should hope for sunny spells with the odd isolated shower as well as strong winds. It will have mainly clear skies overnight with a temperature of 6C.
Wellington is set to see some sun, with increasing cloud and showers from the evening with a strong southerly change. An overnight low of 7C is predicted.
Christchurch residents should keep an umbrella close because a few showers are expected from the afternoon onwards. And as southwest winds freshen, there's a risk of hail. A high of 15C and a low of 5C is forecast.
Dunedin should get some rain, easing to showers during the afternoon, and the inescapable brisk southwest winds, dropping to a low of 7C.
Showers are expected to turn to snow about the summit of the Desert Rd, with snow showers above 900m until late tomorrow morning. Between 1cm and 3cm of snow may accumulate above 900m.
