A southwest flow which is bringing showers to many places on Sunday will be replaced by clearing skies on Monday as a ridge of high pressure moves onto New Zealand. However, the ridge only makes a brief appearance before rain bands start moving over the country from Tuesday.

Frosts are likely over most of the South Island and central parts of the North Island on Monday morning. Motorists in these areas should also be aware that black ice is likely on the roads. “The combination of clearing skies and cold air left behind from the southwest flow is a good recipe for overnight temperatures to plummet. Some places in Central Otago could get down to -5 degrees Celsius,” says MetService Meteorologist Stephen Glassey.

Following the spell of fine and frosty weather on Monday, rain bands start moving across the country from Tuesday, with the heaviest falls likely in the west of the South Island. However, eastern parts of both Islands should remain mostly dry until later in the week.

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