Rug up ... big chill on way today, says weatherman

Meteorologist Dan Corbett has advised Wairarapa residents to get their "warm woollies ready" with the cold snap hitting the region today.

Mr Corbett said a southerly change was on its way, with temperatures expected to plummet to 1C overnight.

The southerly will begin in southern Wairarapa and may rise to severe gale by this afternoon, possibly reaching more than 100km/h in places.

"The southerly is going to strengthen throughout the day today and will pick up during the afternoon. We'll all notice it. By the end of the day on Friday, many southern parts of the Wairarapa will be very, very windy," Mr Corbett said.

Tonight through to tomorrow would "really get cold" with a possibility of snow on the Rimutaka Hill tomorrow night.

He said the snow was not expected to accumulate too much.

There will be rain on and off throughout today and tomorrow, with bursts of cold rain tomorrow.

"Temperatures will be, if we're lucky, 8-9C but will probably feel not much above freezing, 3-4C, with wind and rain.

"Combine the wind and the rain and it will make it feel very, very winter-like and unpleasant outside."

He said the wind would ease on Saturday but it would be frosty around the region, with temperatures down to 1-2C overnight. Sunday should show an improvement, with showers clearing and southerlies changing to northwesterlies.