So how many of you had to get a fire going last night?

How many of you wanted to just crawl back into bed this morning after discovering the very winter-like chill in the air?

It was a cold one across almost all of New Zealand this morning.  Northland and Auckland had temperatures in the mid and upper teens to right around 20.  But for the rest of the country, 10-15 was the rule with some spots even in the single digits again.

Add that blustery south wind to the equation and now you have a formula for a “staying under the covers” day.

Here are some temperatures from 9:00 am:

• Waiouru: 7
• Lumsden: 8
• Gore: 9
• Masterton: 10
• Queenstown: 10
• Stewart Island: 10
• Christchurch: 11
• Invercargill: 11
• Dunedin: 12
• Nelson: 12
• Hamilton: 13
• Wellington: 13
• Auckland: 16
• Whangarei: 17

Now, keep in mind that half the reason for this big punch of cold air is the big high off to our west.  It’s that same high that will keep our weather very settled for most of this week.  We will gradually warm up over the next few days.

So, other than a rainy Friday in the offing, it looks like a round of goold old-fashoined summer weather is finally here.  It may even stick around for the upcoming holiday weekend.

We just have to get through this little taste of winter first.