Winds between 70-120kph are blowing  this morning from the west across exposed coasts with more forecast to come.

The biggest gusts appear to be over lower parts of the North and South Islands and with the windchill factor taken into account in the south, temperatures feel at freezing point.

Squally showers are the order of the day in the deep south with westerlies expected to be quite fierce at times. Snow is still predicted to be to low levels for much of the day in the far southeast corner of the Mainland.

Aucklanders yesterday didn’t cop the full force of the anticipated stormy conditions but Wellingtonians saw a considerable dousing. Christchurch saw the sun break out in the afternoon and Dunedinites felt the coldest temperatures move in last night. The southern city is down to just 2 degrees this morning with a howling sou’ wester and wintry showers passing through.

” In the south the conditions are fairly much bang on with what we thought would take place but that doesn’t give any heart to those who have to brave the elements today,” says WeatherWatch Analyst Richard Green.
” These westerlies are pounding away and it’s the strong gusts in the far south that make it feel so cold and the wind looks as if it’ll hand around for a while yet ” reports Mr Green.

Main centres

Auckland 15

Hamilton 13

Tauranga 12

Wellington 14

Christchurch 3

Dunedin 4