MetService News Release

7th April 2019

Coldest weekend of the year so far

During the weekend, many places recorded their coldest temperatures of the year so far.

Over the lower South Island, clear and calm conditions caused overnight temperatures to plummet below zero in many places. Most notably, Omarama got down to -5 degrees early on Saturday morning. Dunedin, Invercargill, and Alexandra also recorded their lowest temperatures during the weekend.

Further north, Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland all recorded their lowest maximum temperatures of the year. Christchurch and Wellington Airports both recorded maximums of between 12 and 13 degrees on Saturday, while Auckland Airport reached a relatively balmy 18 degrees. “While these aren’t the coldest temperatures these places have had this year, they are the coldest maximum temperatures they have had this year,” explains MetService Meteorologist Stephen Glassey.

The colder temperatures were partly caused by high pressure over the bottom of the South Island, causing clear and calm conditions there while directing relatively cold southerly winds over the rest of New Zealand.

Looking ahead, warmer temperatures are forecast as the ridge of high pressure drifts north during Monday and Tuesday. This allows a front to approach the South Island, which is expected to begin moving north over the country from Wednesday bringing rain with it.

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