Only the skifields will welcome the weather this weekend as frosty winter temperatures are expected to finally kick in after a prolonged autumn.

Heavy rain which hammered parts of the North Island yesterday – up to 100mm in places – is expected to clear this morning with only intermittent showers remaining.

After an unseasonably warm May and early June, temperatures are forecast to plummet late on Sunday afternoon as the cold weather which dropped snow on Australia arrives on our shores.

South Island skifield operators will welcome the cold blast – a warm start to June forced Mount Hutt and Coronet Peak to delay their openings.

WeatherWatch.conz analyst Philip Duncan said the cold air would push the temperature down at least three degrees across the country.

“We’ve been getting highs of 19C to 21C in June but those are going to correct to normal June temperatures. It is more likely to be 16C-17C in Auckland and 14C-15C in Wellington.”

Mr Duncan said winter would not settle in completely with warm northerlies possible at the end of next week.

A high was also expected on Friday, which could create some of the first severe frosts of the season.

One unusual sight this winter is healthy twin lambs which were born on the Coatesville lifestyle block of Jenny Jorgensen.

Usually, the lambing season is July to September with the introduction of rams delayed until February to ensure the worst of winter is over when the lambs arrive. But at the Coatesville property, rams roam with ewes throughout the year.

The 5-year-old mother has plenty of milk – thanks to the grass growth of a warmer than usual winter.

– Homepage image / Jeanie Griffin

– NZ Herald, by isaac.davison@nzherald.co.nz – Additional reporting: Wayne Thompson