A cold snap is set to hit across the North and South Islands as a high bringing fine weather to much of the country moves offshore, a forecaster says.
Weatherwatch.co.nz said a cold southerly would be felt across southern and eastern parts of both islands this weekend and early next week.
Southland would be hit hardest, with parts of the region struggling to register double digit temperatures on Sunday and Monday, it said.
In the North Island the cold southerly was expected to hit Wellington by next Monday then move up Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay.
The cold weather was expected to affect anniversary day in the capital, where the southerly would blow to gale force at times and make the 15 degree daytime high feel like 12 degrees, Weatherwatch.co.nz said.
"Overall the rest of the country may be a degree or two cooler but the coldest air will remain around Southland, Otago and Wellington, regions that are more exposed to the southerly."
WeatherWatch.co.nz said the cold snap would likely be over by the middle of next week, with an even larger high pushing in by next Tuesday and covering much of the country.
Long range forecasts were predicting fine weather for Auckland anniversary day on January 30.