Kiwis could be relaxing in balmy pre-summer weather this weekend, just days after an Antarctic blast walloped New Zealand.
Last weekend the country was hit by strong gales with the South Island layered in snow as an offshore weather bomb to the south-east dredged up Antarctic air.
Even on Friday it was chilly for many centres. Auckland Airport was at 6C at 7am, while Queenstown was down to 2C.
"A few light frosts in both islands. The coldest places overnight were Waiouru with -1.9C and the Nelson Lakes area with -3.2C," MetService said.
But that may be all about to change.
NIWA said this week that we are heading from "Antarctica to Australia".
"Our air mass source will soon change from Antarctic to Australian," it said.
"After temperatures as cold as -10 degrees tonight, 25+ degrees will be possible in some places from this weekend into early next week!"
MetService posted four maximum forecast temperature weather maps on social media, showing it will be the east in for the warmest days.
On Friday, the maximum forecast temperature for Gisborne is said to be 19C. A day later, it will be 21C. Fast-forward to Sunday and it's 24C, and then on Monday, it hits 25C.
MetService says Kaikoura will hit 26C on Sunday.
Among the other areas forecast to hit the twenties on Monday include Kaitaia, Whitianga, Hamilton, Taupo, Hastings, Masterton, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill.
For those in Auckland, temperatures will jump from 17C on Friday to a peak of 19C on Saturday and Monday.
But the warm weather may not last, according to Weatherwatch.
"Warmer than average temperatures this weekend, over 8 degrees above normal for some, but a colder chance arrives on Tuesday," the forecaster said.
"Southland will go from around 20C on Monday to 9C by Tuesday. Still, that’s better than the high of around 3C or 4C last Tuesday! No sea low or low level snow is forecast.
"Drier than average weather dominates many other regions – especially Auckland and northern NZ."
There are several weather warnings and watches out for the coming days from MetService.
A heavy rain warning is in place for Westland, south of Otira for between 8pm on Friday and 6am on Saturday. North of Otira can expect heavy rain on Saturday morning.
The Canterbury High Country has a strong wind warning for between 4am on Saturday and 12pm on Sunday while the Canterbury coast and plains, including Banks Peninsula, has a heavy rain watch out from 9pm on Saturday and 11am on Sunday.
A strong wind warning is in place from for the southern lakes in Otago and Fiordland from Friday night to Sunday morning. Fiordland can expect heavy rain as well on Friday evening.
