Weather Watch: Wintry weather pushing into Christchurch

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A wintry cold snap is this afternoon moving up the South Island and towards the lower North Island reports WeatherWatch.co.nz.

The weather news authority says cold southerlies have now pushed into northern Canterbury with temperatures hovering between 8 and 10 degrees right up the southern and eastern coastline of the South Island.

Gusts to 60 and 70km/h are being recorded this hour in a number of centres.

But it's a different story in the capital under sunny skies and a warm brisk northerly. It's currently 17 degrees in Wellington with 19 degrees in Lower Hutt.

The cold front is expected to clear Christchurch in time for Guy Fawkes celebrations tonight, however strong southerlies will linger, which may be a dampener for some. Some showers may also linger.

The front will push into Wellington later this evening with gusty winds but conditions should be mild and dry for the start of the evening but will go down hill quickly once the front arrives.

WeatherWatch.co.nz will have main centre forecasts from 5pm tonight with the latest on where the cold front currently lies.