North Islanders will get a reprieve from the wintry blast as temperatures are predicted to creep back up over 20C this week.
It was cooler start for many parts of the country last week and the long weekend, as temperatures hovered below 20C.
And although it will get warmer this week, particularly in the north, the MetService is predicting rain for most northern and western parts of the North Island and the western side of the South Island.
Heavy rain is most likely to hit southern Westland, Fiordland and the Otago and Canterbury headwaters from late tomorrow through to Saturday. There's a moderate risk of rain about northern Westland, Buller and Nelson on Thursday and Friday.
Rain develops in Auckland on Thursday, which is also predicted to be the warmest day of the week with a high of 20C.
The capital is expected to get wetter and warmer from Thursday, when strengthening northerly winds are forecast.
Despite an early-morning low of -1C, Christchurch too is expected to get a little warmer. Temperatures are not expected to dip below zero for the rest of the week. However, Cantabrians will dodge most of the wet weather, as only a little bit of light rain is forecast for Friday.
Further south, Dunedin too is forecast to avoid a drenching, with some light rain forecast for the end of the week.
MetService has also predicted strong gusts of wind for eastern parts, in particular around Wellington and the Wairarapa.
This week's weather
Auckland:
• Today - Fine, some high cloud
H: 17C L: 13C
• Wednesday - Cloudy periods
H: 19C L: 16C
• Thursday - Rain developing, easing later
H: 20C L: 14C
• Friday - A few showers, turning to rain
19C L: 13C
• Saturday - One or two showers with light winds
H: 17C L: 12C
Wellington:
• Today - Sunny with little wind
H: 14C L: 7C
• Wednesday - Fine with northerlies
H: 15C L: 9C
• Thursday - Rain developing and northerlies strengthening
H: 17C L: 13C
• Friday - Rain, clearing later
H: 17C L: 11C
• Saturday - Fine with northwesterlies
H: 15C L: 10C
Christchurch:
• Today - Sunny with morning frost
H: 12C L: -1C
• Wednesday - Fine, morning frosts, high cloud later in the day
H: 14 C L: 4C
• Thursday -High cloud, a few spots of rain, northerlies
H: 17C L: 9C
• Friday - High cloud, some light rain, clearing later
H: 17C L: 5C
• Saturday -Fine with not much wind
H: 16C L: 3C
Dunedin:
• Today -Sunny, with morning frost
H: 12 C L: 4C
• Wednesday -Fine, morning frost, high cloud later
H: 12C L: 6C
• Thursday - High cloud, brief light rain at first. Northerlies
H: 17C L: 10C
• Friday - High cloud, some light rain, clearing later
H: 16C L: 7C
• Saturday - Cloudy with little wind
H: 11C L: 5C