As we creep into midwinter, temperatures for the early part of the week continue on a cool theme with chilly nights, some frosts too and coolish days.

Later in the week, temperatures may lift a little as northerlies freshen in some exposed places but with it, some rain may be more than a distinct possibility.

To begin with, some cloud and a shower or two may continue to cling onto a few eastern districts over the next couple of days but elsewhere it’s looking pleasantly sunny.

By Thursday, cloud is likely to build in the west with the chance of some showers forming in western areas of the mainland.

Friday sees that pattern continuing but rain moving into the picture in a number of western regions with a little spillover possible in Canterbury, Otago and Southland by later on Friday.

At this stage, the weekend is looking like a mixed bag with fine spells but showers or rainy periods over much of the nation.