Weather: Coldest day of the year recorded, temperatures hit sub-zero

Winter has stamped its mark this morning, with a number of areas around the country recording their coldest temperatures of the year so far.

MetService confirmed the coldest temperature this morning was at Pūkaki Airport, near Twizel, which recorded -5.5C.

Aucklanders are also facing a chilly start to the day, with the city also recording its coldest day this year. At 7am, it was 3.8C at Auckland Airport.

By 8am, the temperature had become a slightly warmer 5C.

MetService meterologist Amy Rossiter said other parts of the country recording their coldest days of the year were Taumarunui on -3.4C, Taupō on -2C and the usually warm Whakatāne, on 2.1C.

“For a beach town, it’s quite cold,” Rossiter laughed.

Most of the country is recording single-digit temperatures.

Just after 8am, the hottest place to be in New Zealand was Lyall Bay, Wellington, which was recording 10.8C.

The chilly temperatures follow predictions that temperatures would plunge to below zero this week, as a high-pressure system hovers over the country today and tomorrow.

Sunny skies are forecast for Auckland to Waitomo – including Taumarunui, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and Taupō.

Those in Northland can also expect fine conditions, apart from isolated showers in the Far North due to clear this morning.

It is expected to be partly cloudy in Taranaki to the Kapiti Coast – including Taihape – with isolated showers about South Taranaki and Whanganui clearing this afternoon.

In Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa and Wellington, the weather is set to be showery about and north of the Wairoa District, but only cloudy periods and a few showers further south.

“Showers gradually clearing from the south this afternoon and evening,” MetService said.

Further south, fine weather is forecast in Nelson, Buller and Westland; and the same in Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago and Southland – although there will be some morning frosts in the latter areas.