The cold southerly blast is expected to cross the entire country within the next 36 hours, and has already started hitting the southern end. Be prepared for heavy rain, snow and howling wind.
WeatherWatch says colder southerlies are set to spread steadily north after being slowed by a developing low pressure system, set to cross central New Zealand/Cook Strait around midnight on Friday.
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Friday will be a wintry day for the South Island, with the North Island taking its turn on Saturday.
"[The] Winter Blast peaks on Saturday," says WeatherWatch, the southerly set to engulf the country with rain and chilly temperatures.
WeatherWatch says the West Coast will continue to be hit by deluge. "This is a significant rain event," said WeatherWatch.
The heavy rain is set to clear on Friday, however, leaving New Zealand's West Coast with mostly sunny weather over the weekend - while the rest of the country suffers through the southerly.
Newshub.
