Although cold and crispy conditions have greeted southerners this morning, strong easterlies are affecting the northern tip of the country pushing the temperature into the high teens.

Timaruvians awoke to a heavy frost this morning with the mercury plunging to almost minus 4 degrees and others parts of the eastern South Island have also seen Jack Frost doing his thing with temperatures at or below freezing point.

At the other end of the spectrum, Cape Reinga is nudging 17 degrees this morning with the wind picking up as a low approaches the country.

Overall today appears to be the most settled day for NZ but the following 48 hours could be a bit of a bumpy ride.