A pool of cold air is being sucked up across much of New Zealand today and combined with the continuation of those sou’westers, it means a chilly day for those in western and southern areas. 

It’s a cold start to the day in the South Island this morning with many centres from Christchurch southwards hovering around 0 to 4 degrees at sunrise.

Daytime highs in the far south will be lucky to reach double digits while a number of other South Island centres, and Wellington, will struggle to reach the teens.  Western centres from Kapiti to Northland may see temps in the mid teens but that wind chill will make it feel more like 10 or 11 in some of those gusts.

Aucklanders will see more showers spreading in from the Tasman Sea with gusty sou’westers downtown – and they’ll be a little lighter than yesterday across the suburbs.  The high in the city will be around 16 degrees but due to the wind tunnel effect and shadows from the high rise buildings it’ll probably feel more lke 10 or 11 degrees.

Our Wanganui Weather Watch reporter Rowena Duncum says thunder, lightening and hail just rumbled across the city.  “Our Classic Hits breakfast announcers, who work in a sound proof studio, could hear the loud boom – that never happens!”. 

Further isolated hail and thunder are possible along the nation’s west coast this morning, including Auckland.

The warmest places to be today will be those regions most sheltered from the sou’wester – such as Whangarei, Tauranga, Gisborne and Blenheim.

Tomorrow the sou’westers will ease even further across most districts but a high pressure system across the weekend is looking increasingly like a North Island and upper South Island event as a low in the Southern Ocean battles for ground over the southern half of the South Island.

What’s it like where you are today?  Post a comment below!  It’s easy to post a comment – no need to log on – just type a name and post your comment – easy!