Very low temperatures have greeted southerners this morning with hard frosts recorded in many areas in amongst sub zero conditions.

Dunedin airport and Queenstown got as low as minus seven degrees earlier this morning and Oamaru and Timaru also felt the very nippy air with minus five degrees.Frost readings in the centres mentioned were between seven and nine degrees.

Christchurch and Invercargill saw the thermometer plunge to minus three degrees with both cities recording seven degree frosts.

Clear skies have remained in most areas although a couple of coastal areas in the east have seen some cloud form.

Temperatures are likely to stay in single figures across central areas of the Mainland and probably southern districts as well with more heavy frosts possible there tonight with temperatures perhaps a degree colder than earlier this morning.

WeatherWatch.co.nz