Spot the cold front moving up the country this afternoon. Temperatures are dropping quickly as a cold front moves northwards over the South Island, with temperatures tumbling as much as 10 to 12 degrees as the front comes through.

Dunedin is currently hovering around 6 or 7 degrees with a wintry southerly.  Ashburton is now down to 10 degrees.  

However a little further north the warmer air continues to push temperatures up. 

Christchurch has 22 degrees with the mercury currently still climbing ahead of the cold change later today.

It’s 18 degrees in Kaikoura as of 2pm.

Further north and it’s windy around Wellington.  North to north west gusts are still over 90km/h in exposed parts of the city. The colder southerly – which may be gale force – will move in overnight and across Wednesday.

Nelson also has a strong northerly, although below gale force.  Temperatures in both Wellington and Nelson are around 15 degrees.

The North Island is sunnier and drier – and warmer – than the South Island.  As of 2pm many northern areas were between 17 and 19 degrees.

Here’s the current temperature map as of 2pm.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz with Wunderground