A gusty cold southerly airflow lies over New Zealand today, easing from the south as a ridge of high pressure starts to build over the lower South Island. An anticyclone lies over the South Island on Tuesday while a southerly airflow lies over the North Island.

Cold southerlies for most of New Zealand today, showers in the east although drying out this afternoon for Southland and Otago. Some snow falling to 300m in Canterbury, 400 to 500m Marlborough through to Hawkes Bay. Southerly winds strong through Cook Strait with gales at times.

Mainly sunny weather in the west, morning showers for Northland clear away.

Looking brighter on Tuesday however it will be a frosty start especially for the inner South Island where heavy frosts are possible. Just some coastal cloud possible along the South Island’s east coast. For the North Island a few showers continue in the south, east and west up through to Taranaki. Mainly sunny elsewhere.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz