While many of us around the country are enjoying warmer than average temperatures this Easter Weekend spare a thought for those in the lower South Island who are about to get their first taste of a winter.

As of 12noon Invercargill was on 13 degrees, tomorrow much of Southland will struggle to even reach the teens with highs around 11 or 12 likely.

It’s a similar story for Dunedin and while it’s 19 degrees this hour with a warm northerly, the cold south west change will arrive tonight and tomorrow will most likely only reach 13 degrees.

In Christchurch and other parts of Canterbury another hot day is on the way today with temperatures this week well above average, hitting the 30 degree mark inland.  Tomorrow that southerly change will see highs only in the low teens.

Meanwhile the North Island should have a relatively mild weekend with highs remaining in the low 20s for many.  Wellington will have cooler conditions later on Sunday and into Monday as that weakening southerly change moves north.