New Zealand last night hunkered down for the big chill - with rugby fans battling sub-zero temperatures at the Super Rugby final and skiers on Mt Ruapehu taking refuge from hurricane-force winds.
A polar blast made its presence felt over much of the country and was expected to worsen overnight, with more snow, rain and heavy winds.
After a night of freezing temperatures, heavy rain and snow, forecasters are predicting more of the same today.
The low pressure system over the North Island, which brought rain to central parts of New Zealand and snow to low levels in eastern parts of Kaikoura Coast to south Gisborne ismoving slowly eastwards out to sea.
Philip Duncan from WeatherWatch predicted another very cold day throughout the whole country.
Image 1 of 14: Snowmen in Methven. Photo / Chris Woods
The associated front will bring more rain to the north of the North Island.
"There is a low risk of warning amounts of rain from Coromandel Peninsula across Great Barrier Island to eastern Northland on Tuesday and Wednesday," MetService said. "The ridge over the South Island strengthens on Monday and persists through to Wednesday."
Heavy snow warnings have been lifted in the central North Island, but several major highways remain closed after a big weekend dumping of the white stuff.
Image 1 of 14: Snowmen in Methven. Photo / Chris Woods
MetService says snowfalls have eased in inland Hawke's Bay this morning and the warnings for that area and eastern Taihape and Taupo are no longer in place.
But both State Highway 1 through the Desert Road and the Napier-Taupo Road remain closed due to snow, while flooding has closed SH2 from Tutira to Wairoa. It's been a cold start for many across the country, with temperature lows below -7C reported at Dunedin Airport, Lumsden and Fairlie.
While the skies are cleaning, Metservice is warning that could mean severe frosts to many areas on Sunday night.
A few hundred people in rural areas around Taupo were still without power this morning and lines company Unison was working as quickly as it could to restore electricity.
