MetService warns frosty blast for South Island as El Nino looms

Frosty conditions in the south are set to move up the country today, bringing a drop in temperatures. Photo / George Heard

Southern parts of the country are likely waking up to a colder than usual morning, with a frosty blast causing a drop in overnight temperatures.

MetService meteorologist Paris Marshall told the Herald Kiwis could be feeling an autumnal chill in the next few days as a cold front moves up the country.

“There’s a cold southerly change that will bring frosty conditions to those areas after it’s passed through, and that will continue up to the top of the East Cape of the North Island, bringing those colder temperatures as well.”

Queenstown and Timaru could drop to lows of 1C, while Ashburton and Invercargill are set to reach a maximum of 15C.

Though the upper island looks to be avoiding the frost, the lower north and Far North will be hit by the effects of the front more than most.

“The Wairarapa may get some frost, but for places far north, there is a slight drop in minimum temperatures. However, it’s not going to be impacted as much as those East Coast urban areas or towns,” Marshall said.

🪅 What's with all the colours? We use colourful satellite imagery to tease apart clouds at different heights
🥶 Cold southerlies move north today and tomorrow and temps plummet. We're in for a few frosty nights this week! 🌡️📉 pic.twitter.com/i8u5WsQAMy

— MetService NZ (@MetService) April 29, 2026

MetService recommended gardeners cover their crops in the evenings to prepare for the chillier conditions.

Heading into the beginning of May, most parts of the country will be enjoying some weekend sunshine.

“It’s looking to be quite nice as a ridge or a high pressure builds over the country, which brings more settled weather, calmer winds and less cloud in the sky,” Marshall said. “It will be an enjoyable weekend for the most part.”

A “sprinkling” of rain might hit Fiordland and the West Coast on Sunday, with isolated showers about the ranges heading into next week.

The drier conditions are likely to continue as winter approaches, with an El Nino weather pattern predicted to cause lower rainfall for many parts of the country.

Earth Sciences New Zealand and MetService meteorologist Jon Tunster said experts had “high confidence” the weather event would arrive in the next few months.

“This could bring increased rainfall to Southland, parts of Otago, and western-facing areas, primarily of the South Island, but reduced rainfall for much of the remainder of the country.

“Dryness could become an issue as spring approaches for areas that see a reduction in their normal winter rainfall such as the east of both islands, or the upper North Island.”