MetService forecast: Cooler nights for South Island, warm days in the north

Cooler, calmer weather is expected across Aotearoa today, with single digit temperatures forecast for Te Waipounamu (South Island) tonight.

MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker said an airflow over the country was bringing cooler conditions after the weekend’s warm weather.

“We’ve had a lot of warm air coming from the northwest recently, but now a southwest flow is setting up, bringing colder air across the country,” Bakker said.

That colder air mass is expected to hit the South Island first, particularly inland parts of Otago, before spreading further north, he said.

Masterton, Twizel, and Alexandra are all forecast to reach a chilly 2C tonight.

It’s going to be a cold Tuesday night! Minimum temperatures are dropping into the single digits for many early on Wednesday morning. Masterton, Twizel, and Alexandra are all forecast to reach a chilly 2°C, so keep an eye out for possible morning frost in sheltered places. pic.twitter.com/Y3UmivpfDd

— MetService NZ (@MetService) March 30, 2026

Daytime temperatures across Te Ika a Māui (North Island) are expected to remain warm.

Some isolated showers are forecast for Auckland this morning, however “those southwesterlies will pick up, so temperatures won’t be quite as lovely”, Bakker said.

“Auckland will make it to 20 degrees in the afternoon, but only just.”

A fine day is forecast for Hamilton, where a high of 22C is expected.

Wellington is forecast to be mainly fine today, though a shower is possible around late morning as northerlies turn southerly.

A high of 16C has been forecast, though temperatures are set to drop to 9C overnight.

The wind change is also driving heavy swells off the Wairarapa coast with waves expected to reach about 4.5m.

“If you don’t think you can go out in it, don’t go out in it.

“And if you don’t know if you can go out in it, that probably means you shouldn’t,” Bakker warned.

Dunedin and Christchurch are expected to reach highs of 14C today before dropping to 9C tonight.

Despite South Island temperatures expected to plunge overnight, warmer conditions are expected as Easter approaches.

Bakker said daytime temperatures in inland parts of the South Island “will be getting low to mid-20s for maximum temperatures”.

Weather conditions over the long weekend are also expected to remain relatively settled.

MetService is “not expecting” any severe weather that would disrupt travel plans.

“It’ll be more along the lines of ‘Ah darn, it’s raining’ rather than something that requires action,” Bakker said.