Much of the country is experiencing unseasonably cold weather today, with parts of the South Island up to 6C below average, but things are expected to warm up by the weekend.
(file photo) Photo: 123RF
MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said a lot of the South Island was below the average for January, with Queenstown and Wanaka standing out at 6C below on highs of 15C and 17C today.
"We've got quite a strong southwesterly flow and that's bringing some colder temperatures, and even with that you've got to also think about wind chill," he said.
Wanaka's coldest January day last year had a high of 21C, although Queenstown did experience a chilly 16C day.
"Even though it is cold, it's not as though it's never happened before," Ferris said.
Last summer was also particularly warm, with many cities experiencing record highs.
The chill was being experienced right across the country, with Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch all experiencing temperatures 4C below the January average.
The heat was expected to return by the weekend however, with Ferris saying the MetService predicted Christchurch would get back up to a high of 27C by Saturday.
"Once we move into the weekend the whole country is looking to warm up."
He said people on the southeast coast of the South Island could expect weekend temperatures to rise by about 10C from what they were today.
The southwesterlies have also brought strong winds over the past couple of days, particularly to Southland and the southern North Island, which led to power cuts overnight.
Forecast:
- Kaitaia (20): Cloudy at times might see a shower.
- Whangarei (21): Partly cloudy.
- Auckland (19): Partly cloudy, chance shower out west.
- Hamilton (19): Cloudy spells.
- Tauranga (22): Fine, apart from some evening cloud.
- Whakatāne (23): Fine, could get a shower this evening.
- Rotorua (19): Mainly fine.
- Gisborne (21), Napier (23) and Hastings (22): Fine, chance afternoon shower.
- Taupō (18): Fine, apart from some morning cloud.
- Taumarunui (20): Partly cloudy.
- New Plymouth (19): Cloudy periods.
- Whanganui (20) and Palmerston North (20): Cloudy at times chance afternoon shower.
- Levin (20) and Kāpiti (19): Fine apart from some evening cloud.
- Masterton (18) and Wellington (17): Partly cloudy.
- Blenheim (20): Fine, then chance shower this afternoon.
- Nelson (21): Fine, chance evening shower.
- Westport (17): Remaining showers clear this morning to fine.
- Greymouth (16) and Hokitika (16): Fine.
- Kaikōura (18): Chance shower around the middle of the day.
- Christchurch (17): A few morning showers then fine spells.
- Ashburton (16) and Timaru (17): Cloudy periods, chance morning shower.
- Oamaru (16): Cloudy at times, possible shower.
- Wanaka (17): Fine, chance afternoon shower.
- Queenstown (15): Mainly fine could see a shower this morning.
- Alexandra (18): Cloudy periods, chance of a shower.
- Dunedin (15): A few showers.
- Invercargill (14): Showers clearing this evening.