North Islanders should rug up and turn their electric blankets on tonight as overnight lows drop by as much as 7C in some areas.

A new road snowfall warning has been issued for the Desert Road, with 1-2cm of snow expected above 900m.

Power outages and wild westerlies at the start of the week as a large low pressure system engulfs the north.

We get to enjoy a thin sliver of fine weather before the rain returns for the weekend.

It's been one of the warmest starts to the year that New Zealand has ever experienced, but Kiwis should start pulling out their winter woollies.

New Year's Eve revellers can expect a warm and sunny day in most parts of the country, but the good weather will be short-lived.

October temperatures were predicted to be average, or above average, in the east of both islands.

Snow is falling in Dunedin and other parts of Otago and Southland as a burst of cold air comes across the country.

The MetService has confirmed it is vying for the multi-million pound weather forecasting contract on BBC TV.

MetService meteorologist Stephen Glassey said there were a few showers affecting Northland and Taranaki today, as well as some cloud over the central North Island.

A cold snap sweeping across the country has made for a frosty start to the week and disrupted flights, roads and schools in Dunedin.

Aucklanders who shivered through another cold night will be pleased to know the showers that brought hail to many places yesterday will ease today.

Hail has pelted Aucklanders today, while snow has paved the Desert Rd and blanketed Dunedin.

Heavy snow and bitterly cold southerlies are expected in parts of the country today.

A wintry blast which battered the South Island over night is now making its way north, with several weather watches and warnings in place.

Heavy rain is forecast to sweep the South Island this morning as most centres settle in for a drizzly day.

A short and sharp weather bomb hit Auckland and the Bay of Plenty today causing surface flooding and damage to some homes throughout the regions.

Yesterday's destructive waves are likely to become a more common occurrence, says a councillor from the worst-hit parts of Wellington.

Massive waves caused havoc on Wellington's south coast, sending boulders onto roads, despite fine and sunny weather in the region today.

MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr said there was a weather watch in place for some snow in areas of Fiordland, Otago and Southland last night.

Huge waves and powerful winds have scattered debris and stopped traffic on coastal roads in central parts of the country today.

Temperatures have plummeted unusually sharply this month, with the mild start to May now a distant memory - and next month looks set to be even colder.

Get out those raincoats, gumboots and umbrellas as rain and wind are set to continue lashing the upper North Island.

Wild weather which caused havoc across the North Island this week has made way for cooler temperatures and southerly winds.

Cleanup efforts have started. Mount Maunganui Intermediate will be closed Friday after announcing that it had suffered “considerable damage”.

Climate scientists are warning that a large, ocean-driven El Nino system could bring unwelcome weather extremes this year, making the east coast drier.

The Metservice says it will have to change its rain gauge at Haast because it is “not responding well to periods of heavy rain”.

Heavy rain and gales were expected for some areas tonight and tomorrow, with thunderstorms possible in or around Auckland.