Woolly jumpers fight the chill

Spring lambs at Cornwall Park in Auckland. Photo / Michael Craig

A wintry blast that battered the South Island is making its way north bringing rain and icy temperatures.

It's good news for snow lovers but not so good for Cornwall Park's first spring lambs. Farm manager Peter Maxwell said the early arrivals came after mating was brought forward to spread out the lambing season, which sees about 750 lambs born every year at the central Auckland park.

The lambs will need to hunker down as winter throws what should be its last hurrah. Yesterday's cold snap blanketed parts of the south in snow and closed roads. The North Island now faces heavy snow in some areas.

Spring lambs at Cornwall Park in Auckland. Photo / Michael Craig

A man skis off the top of Ohau Ski Area, Mackenzie Basin, in 40cm of fresh snow. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Aucklanders can expect showers and westerly winds for much of today and tomorrow and the temperature will plunge to 2°C overnight.

But MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr said better news wasn't far away.

"Some of [the weather] is going to ease in the early part of next week," he said.

"By the middle of the week it will just be fine with light winds."