"These temperature are the forecast air temperature at around 1.5 meters above the surface, but air in intimate contact with the ground will result in ground frosts, with plenty of crisp mornings ahead for those exercising dogs on parks and lawns," the MetService says on its Facebook page.
In the North Island, from Northland to Manawatu, showers can be expected until the end of the week, and Queenstown is likely to get snow.
The dumping of snow will widely affect the South Island ski fields and be a welcome boost for keen skiers and snowboarders who already have plans to get up the slopes this weekend.
Metservice meteorologist Andy Best said two cold fronts have brought a southerly change to much of the South Island this morning.
"These fronts have already gone through places like Christchurch and brought strong cold southwesterlies to Canterbury, North Otago and parts of Southland."
Best said residents should expect periods of rain but also snow to 700m around Canterbury, isolated snow showers down to 300m in Central Otago and down to 200m in Southland and Clutha today.
"Those fronts clear quite quickly this afternoon and we are left with southwesterlies down in the south.
"The southerlies are expected to come through Wellington early this afternoon."
Meanwhile, 85 households are still without power in remote parts of central Otago, including rural areas near the townships of Millers Flat and Roxburgh.
