Winds and bursts of heavy rain settled in for a time overnight and in places again this morning, mostly over the lower third of the nation.

The focus is on southern New Zealand today and severe gales did hit parts of inland South Island areas during the night with winds topping out over 100kph.
This could continue off and on until this afternoon and then winds backing off somewhat.

Heavy showers, thunderstorms, hail and a drop in snow levels will take place off and on throughout the day for parts of Otago, Southland, Fiordland and the West Coast.
A sou’ west change is set to move up eastern areas this afternoon with a risk of thundery skies for Canterbury. We have that as a 30-40% chance at the moment.

A band of rain or showers is about to move over Dunedin after crossing parts of Southland, south and central Otago earlier this morning.

A few isolated showers are tacking over northern North Island districts but overall much of the island is dry but winds have been picking up over the lower half.

The main engine room of this polar system will push in later tomorrow with bitterly cold southerlies for much of the Mainland but a slow clearance for the West Coast is expected in time for Tuesday.

That same day should see much of the North Island feeling the impact with a big drop in temperature and overhead conditions certainly resembling a taste of winter.

-WeatherWatch