We're waking to a bitterly cold morning with parts of the country colder than a witch's belt buckle after winter tightened its grip on New Zealand in the first week of the school holidays.
This morning temperatures have plunged to single digits everywhere including an icy -3C in Hamilton, 2.5Cin Auckland,1.7C and -4.2C in Twizel - the coldest place in New Zealand at 6am.
And if you're shivery in Auckland, MetService says it's likely to feel like freezing point of 0C, with an advisory to wear at least four layers of clothing if you go outside.
Surprisingly Stewart Island on 8C and Kaikoura on 9.8C were the warmest spots in the land.
A large amount of snow fell in Waiouru, southeast of Mt Ruapehu on State Highway 1. Photo / Supplied
The Desert Rd and its main detour via SH49 between Tohunga Junction and Waiōuru were both closed.
And through to midday yesterday, MetService anticipated between 2cm and 4cm of snow to fall above 600m.
Fierce winds also hammered the north on Wednesday, causing trees and powerlines to fall and create outages across Auckland and Northland.
Trucks parked in Waiouru on Thursday following after snow fell in the area. Photo / Supplied
MetService is forecasting generally calm weather for the weekend, and the week ahead, but there will be a brief interruption on Sunday and Monday.
A high-pressure system started to build over New Zealand yesterday and would force the weather across the country to settle down.
The high will largely dominate the weather with winds lighter than over the past week and the skies drier too, however, there won't be much warmth about.
"Clear and still conditions keep temperatures cooler, especially overnight," MetService meteorologist Tui McInnes said.
"We're in [the] thick of winter, so despite the blue skies keep the heavy duvets on the bed, the fireplace stoked and have the heaters at the ready."
Light winds and ridging extending out from an anticyclone over the Tasman Sea would see temperatures plunge overnight, according to WeatherWatch.co.nz.
Those waking up about rural southern Auckland can expect frosts - which will be more likely inland and less around coastal fringe areas.
Southland and Otago, meanwhile, can expect their weather to be the coolest in the country today, reaching between 9C and 10C.
After the settled weather over the weekend, a cold front is due to hit the South Island on Sunday before sliding northwards from Monday morning.
Calm conditions to dominate from today... Another front is due Sunday/Monday, bringing some wet weather, although mainly in the west. Details at https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^Tui pic.twitter.com/3tkAT90uMp
