Winter weather: Temperatures below freezing, more frost on way, MetService says
Taumarunui dropped to -4C this morning and Taupō to -2C. Auckland was on 6C this morning.
MetService said it was Christchurch's coldest temperature of the month. Taumarunui's temperature was its coldest of the year so far.
The cold temperatures were due to the high-pressure system, Shiviti told the Herald.
'The coldest temperatures should be around Otago, Southland," he said.
Good morning Aotearoa New Zealand
❄🌫It's a chilly start to the week for many, with frost or fog in some areas. At 7am, temperatures were still in the single digits in most places.
🌡🥶Christchurch hit -3.8°C, its coldest July temperature this year.
Taumarunui dropped to… pic.twitter.com/YcusLflaA0 — MetService (@MetService) July 20, 2025
'There has not been an opportunity for a lot of mixing [of air]. It is expected to remain over the country for the week,' he said.
'There is a chance of a shower around parts of the East Coast, around Gisborne and the Hawke's Bay.'
MetService forecasts a partly cloudy day for Napier today, with a few showers around midday. Tomorrow should turn mainly fine apart from a shower in the afternoon.
Gisborne has a forecast of mostly cloud with some showers. Tomorrow should be mostly fine with some showers later in the day.
A southerly front is due to hit the country from about Wednesday; radar maps show a wall of rain hitting the East Coast.
'The front is part of the same high-pressure system, and it will mean showers for parts of the east throughout the week,' Shiviti said.
The frosty conditions prompted the New Zealand Transport Agency to issue a warning for motorists driving the Haast Pass yesterday afternoon.
'Due to black ice, take extra care when travelling,' the transport agency said.
Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers business, breaking news and local stories from Tāmaki Makaurau. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.
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