Snow flurries but weather will improve

A polar blast saw a dusting of snow on the Kaweka Range, north of Napier and other parts of the region yesterday. Photo/Warren Buckland

Temperatures are expected to rise after a polar blast saw parts of the region dusted with snow yesterday.

WeatherWatch.co.nz forecaster Philip Duncan said a southerly flow brought brisk winds and snow flurries to parts of the Hawke's Bay.

There was snow on the ranges down to 400 metres and snow fell as far north as Waikato - down to 600 metres.

Further snow flurries were expected on the ranges last night.

A Dannevirke resident said the temperature had plummeted to -2C on Sunday night.

There had been a few snow flurries yesterday and the daytime temperature hovered between 4C and 6C.

The resident noticed snow on the Puketoi Range yesterday, which was abnormal, she said.

"It [the snow] was quite thick and it was lower down."

A Wairoa resident said he hadn't noticed any snow but it hailed in the afternoon.

MetService forecaster Leigh Matheson said the snow was due to a very cold trough that came up from the far south, bringing wintry weather to much of the country.

"The origins of the air is from Antarctica, so it's a really cold air mass."

However, the air mass had moved on from the region last night and temperatures would increase during the next few days.

Today's 12C daytime high would reach 15C on Friday.

Mr Duncan said brisk winds from the southwest would reach a blustery 30km/h today, as they did yesterday, but die out on Thursday.

Scattered showers were expected today, easing tonight.

It would then be dry for the rest of the week, until Saturday, when there was a chance of a few showers as southerlies briefly returned.

Next week the region would see a return to warm northerlies, which likely meant higher temperatures, but wet weather.

Mr Duncan predicted next month would see a mixture of both airflows, and "generally warmer".