Frost things first as chill points to early winter
Forecasters predict icy morning will give way to dry, fine and sunny conditions
Kiwis are this morning waking to frosts, snow, and bone-chilling winds — but with it comes dry, fine and sunny conditions for most. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) said the country was in the middle of a “winter-like surge” with snow expected in the central North Island last night as polar air plunged temperatures to below zero.
MetService issued road snowfall warnings for four mountain passes in the South Island yesterday, with up to five centimetres of snow expected to settle overnight.
Temperatures in Auckland, meanwhile, were forecasted to drop to 6C overnight and fall to 4C tonight. Throughout today, the daily high could hit 17C with fine conditions and cool southerly winds.
Frosts were also likely tomorrow morning. MetService credited the cooler temperatures to a string of cold fronts sweeping the country with brisk, southerly winds.
MetService meteorologist John Law said it was possible Auckland could get frosts as clear night skies and cold winds created “perfect conditions” for cooler-than-average temperatures.
Looking ahead to the weekend, the City of Sails could dip to 5C on Saturday night with a 7C overnight low forecast for Sunday. Saturday’s high was tipped at 15C while Sunday should reach 16C. Both days should see sunny skies and fresh southerlies.
“If you’re in Hawke’s Bay tomorrow and you look out at the hills to the west of you, you may see a dusting of snow,” said Law.
It comes after Taumarunui started yesterday at -4C. Taupō began the day at -2C. Further south, Christchurch woke to -3C, Timaru started at -2C and Queenstown saw -1C.
Niwa said this was a “fast start to the snowy season” and said tomorrow would be “a very cold day for the time of year”.
Some of the winds likely to buffet the country overnight could reach 80km/h in exposed places around Westland, in the South Island. Gales were also possible around the Wellington and Marlborough this morning.
The earliest road snowfall warning was in place at 3pm yesterday for the Crown Range Rd.
Lewis Pass, State Highway 7, Arthur’s Pass, SH73, and Porters Pass were under road snowfall warnings from 7pm last night at the earliest to 3am today at the latest.
Flurries on the Crown Range Rd were recorded at 4pm yesterday — promoting a warning from MetService to motorists to “drive safe and take care on the wet roads and poor visibility”.
MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said this May was a stark contrast with last year. “Many may recall the tropical-feeling temperatures of May 2023, where places like Auckland and Hamilton experienced record-breaking warm nights.
“However, this year, expect an overnight drop to mid-single digits in Auckland City and early morning temperatures hovering near freezing in Hamilton,” Makgabutlane said.