You might have looked at the temperature this morning and thought, surely it's colder than that - MetService says days like today are when you'll want to pay attention to the "feels like" temperature - which factors in wind chill.
Photo: 123rf
MetService explains wind chill by saying in calm conditions, the heat we give off warms the air around us and stays close to our skin - so we feel warmer. Strong winds remove this layer of warm air and replace it with cold air, meaning we feel colder.
"These blustery conditions are due to the isobars bunching up between high pressure over the South Island and a low pressure system away to the northeast of the country," MetService meteorologist Dan Corrigan said.
Eastern areas will see cloudy and showery weather driven by southeasterly winds, he said.
Niwa said high pressure means chilly overnight and morning temperatures. It also means high humidity levels which combined with cold temperatures, increases the threat of black ice.
On Monday Haast was the warmest place in the country, reaching 16C, while Waiouru was the coldest with it's warmest temperature only 5C.
At Scott Base, Antarctica, it was -31C this morning, and felt like -48C.
MetService says we haven't seen the last of the cold nights, with more on the way.