Freezing air from off the ice cap is likely to spread over the South Island on Monday bringing snow to low levels in Southland, Otago and Fiordland – but before that arrives the days ahead look windier and warmer with nor’westers picking up in the days ahead for many.

The cold weather arrives on Monday and Monday night – and there may even be a time snow falls to sea level (although in NZ it’s often borderline due to our relatively mild temperatures).

By Tuesday next week the cold goes into the North Island – but the Antarctic portion is looking to be short lived and gone within 24 hours for the lower South Island.

Windy, warmer, westerlies look likely later next week as a spring weather pattern forms.