A cold southerly front moving up the country is expected to bring gales and snow to the east coast of the country.
MetService has released a severe weather watch as a cold front, followed by cold southerlies gales, moves up the country tomorrow and Monday.
The gales could become severe in exposed places between Banks Peninsula and the East Cape.
The front was also expected to bring rain and snow to those areas.
MetService meteorologist April Clark said the southerly had moved over the country in the past two days, and the cold was being felt everywhere.
The cold weather would stick around, she said.
"It's not going to get warmer, looking at -5°C for some inland places like Queenstown so it is cold even during the day.
"Tomorrow most places in the South Island won't push past 10°C."