More unsettled weather is the forecast this week but unlike last week temperatures will be lower and eastern areas will be wetter.

A cold south to south west flow will push across parts of the South Island today and over the next few days – and will also push into the North Island over the next 48 hours.

Snow is likely on the South Island ranges Monday and Tueday and may also affect the Desert Road late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

A high will be moving in from Tasmania around the middle of the week, bringing clearing skies and a return to frosts to the South Island towards the end of the week.

However a new low pressure system is expected to develop around Bay of Plenty on Thursday and will linger around the upper North Island until – and possibly across – the upcoming weekend.  This low could bring rain or showers to northern and eastern areas of the North Island too – and lower temperatures.

Last week eastern parts of New Zealand hit the 20s as warm westerlies moved in. This week Dunedin has single digit highs every day with Christchurch hovering around the 10 degree mark.  Wellington will also be much cooler with highs in the low double digits this week but overnight lows remaining similar to the highs due to the wind and cloud.

Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and other northern New Zealand centres will also be cooler.  Highs this week will only be around 12 to 14 degrees, compared to late teens last week.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz