Brisk north, mild south - role reversal as cold snap targets top of New Zealand

Frosts were felt across the North Island this morning. Picture / Michael Craig

As the top of the country shivered in sub-zero temperatures, parts of the traditionally chilly deep south were being warmed up by a northwesterly blast.

It's been another cold night for many across the country, with temperatures dipping below zero in parts.

But after cold starts during the beginning of the week, some southern areas basked in comparatively balmy temperatures.

MetService meteorologist Peter Little said the Southland town of Gore jumped from 5C to 14C in half an hour just before dawn.

That was thanks to a norwester with gusts of 70km/h "blasting through", Little said.

Down the road in Invercargill, the temperature was 12C at 7am.

It's a chilly start for inland parts of the North Island. #Waiouru -3.7°C & #Hamilton -2.7°C https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^PL pic.twitter.com/hnIW6BJKAF

— MetService (@MetService) May 22, 2017

Those in the central North Island should be so lucky.

Chilliest overnight was the Desert Rd, where the temperature dropped to -4.9C, and Waiouru, where the low was -3.7C.

Hamilton was the coldest of the main centres, on -2.7C overnight, and it wasn't much better in Rotorua, where -2.4C was recorded, Little said.

@localtauranga @LoveTauranga @Mt_Maunganui @sunlive_nz @Bay_Times Glad I'm not teeing off at Tauranga golf course this morning its Freezing pic.twitter.com/sgDSB0gJqX

— Duncan Lowry (@DuncanLowry1) May 22, 2017

Even Auckland, used to mild winters, dipped below zero - by half a degree at Whenuapai and 0.1C at Ardmore.

Not everyone was sympathetic.

If I hear one more Aucklander complain about how cold it is... 🙄

— Zoe Virtue (@ZoVirtue) May 22, 2017

Wind and cloud had protected Wellington from a frosty night, giving the city an overnight low of 12C, but those in the capital shouldn't expect a warm day.

"It's warming only slightly more today. I think we'll be lucky to reach [the forecast] 15C," Little said.

Fire in the sky: sunrise, Wellington @WhyWellington pic.twitter.com/b3ekkEvYSx

— Phil Veal (@pjveal) May 22, 2017

It was better news for those in the top half of the North Island.

Today will be chilly - in Auckland the mercury will nudge 15C - warmer weather is on the way. Our biggest city will bask in daytime highs of 18C for the next four days.

"The outlook is for warmer weather. Wednesday and Thursday is not looking too bad."

No weather warnings are in place across the country, but there are watches for heavy rain in Westland and severe gales in Otago, Southland and Inland Canterbury today.

AUCKLAND
Today: Fine, cloud increasing. 15C
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy, few showers developing. 18C

HAMILTON
Today: Cloud increasing, a few showers late at night. 14C
Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy, a few showers. 16C

TAURANGA
Today: Fine, cloud from afternoon. 15C
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy, a few showers. 17C

PALMERSTON NORTH
Today: Mostly cloudy, a few showers from afternoon. 14C
Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy, a few showers. 15C

WELLINGTON
Today: Mostly cloudy, the odd shower. 15C
Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy, a few showers. 14C

NELSON
Today: Cloudy periods, odd shower from afternoon. 14C
Tomorrow: Fine, apart from morning cloud. 15C

CHRISTCHURCH
Today: High cloud, odd shower late evening with southerly change. 17C
Tomorrow: Cloudy periods, chance morning shower. 12C

DUNEDIN
Today: Cloudy periods, the odd shower from afternoon. 15C
Tomorrow: Mainly fine, some morning cloud. 12C