Southland remains the coldest place in the country today as gale force westerlies continue to hammer the region.

Gale force winds are blasting Invercargill with gusts to 80km/h and a temperature this hour of only 12 degrees.  In Gore the winds are a little lighter but it’s only 11 degrees.

Dunedin also has strong to gale force westerlies with gusts reaching 80km/h but conditions are a little warmer than yesterday with 14 this hour.

The warmer westerlies have also helped lift Timaru and Christchurch to around 20 degrees making them, Auckland and Whanagrei the warmest places this hour.

Showers are now clearing the nation with just a few lingering along the North Island’s west coast from about Wanganui/coastal Taranaki to Northland – some remain about the Catlins and Akaroa.

Tomorrow winds should die out for much of New Zealand with just coastal breezes likely, especially along the east coast.