Big chill coming

Sub-zero temperatures are forecast to hit most of the country this morning and into the start of the new week.

It’s perfect weather to pull on the thermal underwear and woolly jumper — and the official start of winter is only five days away.

Even with plenty of sunshine, Auckland is expected to hit highs of just 13C until Tuesday.

Freezing temperatures were expected last night for parts of the South Island, such as Alexandra.

Southland and Coastal Otago will get highs of just 8C today and Monday, according to WeatherWatch analyst Phil Duncan.

Highs in Queenstown will be between 2C and 3C but overnight lows will drop to -6C, and Wellington will tip the mercury at just 10C at its warmest point.

“We have another cold front moving up over the South Island and with that we’ll be getting rain, possibly heavy for places like Southland, Fiordland, Clutha and scattered showers for central Otago and Dunedin,” said MetService meteorologist April Clark.

Another low will creep eastwards over the country today, bringing strong winds to the southern and eastern coasts and possible severe southerly gales from Banks Peninsula to Gisborne, bringing more cooler temperatures.

Tomorrow, there’s a small chance of heavy snowfall about north Canterbury and the Kaikoura Ranges above 400m.

Mid-week, a ridge of high pressure is expected to build over the South Island as the southerly flow over the North Island eases.