Chilly blast on way

The winterless North's catch cry will be given a severe testing this week when low winter temperatures arrive in Northland.

But it's unlikely to get as cold as July 2009 when snow fell in elevated parts of the region.

MetService spokesman Daniel Corbett said winter will finally arrive in Northland tomorrow but the cold snap will only last till Tuesday.

Mr Corbett said daily highs in Northland would be 12C to 14C from tomorrow until Tuesday, but overnight the mercury could fall to 4C or 5C in most centres - possibly even lower in some spots.

The weather pattern would also bring rain that would be cold and possibly turn into hail in some places, Mr Corbett said.

However, it won't be as bad as July 2009, when snow settled at Tutamoe and Tangihua ranges - the first time such a coating had been recorded in living memory. At that time Whangarei got down to 2C.