A low that created dozens of thunderstorms over the North Island this weekend, highs up to 20 degrees and a large hail storm in Tauranga is this morning crossing the North Island and will lie off the Gisborne coast later today before stalling.

The low will then become a Pacific Ocean low and will fuel rain, heavy at times, into Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa and northern Canterbury.

Rain will be accompanied by colder winds from the east, south east and south.

Wellington will today see rain setting in and a cold southerly.

Rain will be heavy about the eastern ranges.

Highs in the east will be well down today and tomorrow too.  On Saturday Napier reached 20 degrees, today the city will unlikely reach teens with a high of just 12.

Cantabrians will also see more cloudy, cold, weather, a hallmark of winter 2010. 

Conditions will ease in all other regions today as that low focuses on mostly eastern areas.
 

Homepage image: Hail in Tauranga yesterday / Grayson Ottaway, Classic Hits 95FM, Tauranga