A burst of cold air is spreading over the country and has caused unstable conditions leading to heavy, squally, downpours some with isolated hail and thunder.

Cells of rain and lightning have been observed over a wide area in the western and northern parts of the North Island.

The main front will pass through Auckland this afternoon, after that showers will ease and clear skies will spread across most parts of the North Island and upper South Island with a cold night ahead. 

Snow showers in the lower South Island will persist until this evening in mountain areas, then ease. There may be some flurries on the Desert Road today and ice overnight. While most parts of the South Island will be sunny for a few days ahead, overcast conditions and showers may persists in coastal Southland due to an influx in southwesterly winds.

Over Wednesday and Thursday most showers will be in the coastal fringes of New Zealand and most should be fairly light.

By Friday a large high moves onto all of New Zealand and continues for Saturday – these two days will be the most settled of the week.

Sub-tropical winds may also affect some regions this weekend as the high shifts across the country, however Sunday looks quite unsettled with a chance of gales and heavy rain in southern and central New Zealand. One to watch.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz