Kiwis will need to wrap up warm for dawn services on Anzac Day as chilly temperatures and frosts hit large parts of the country.
MetService warns a cold southwesterly change is sweeping up New Zealand bringing strong winds, showers and much cooler temperatures.
The forecaster said a front is expected to move northwards across southern and central New Zealand on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, followed by westerly gales in some places.
NIWA also warns over the next 24 hours, the effective, or 'feel' temperature will be near or below zero for many interior sections of the South Island and parts of the North Island.
MetService meteorologist Jessie Owen told Newshub the cold front that has hit New Zealand is in vast contrast to the muggy warm temperatures we've been experiencing lately.
"We're looking at a change to much colder temperatures most noticeably will be the overnight low temperatures. So tomorrow morning's temperatures are going to be very cold," Owen said.
"So we're expecting temperatures in the single digits for most parts of the country, low single digits for a lot of people."
Owen is warning places like Hamilton, Rotorua, Taupō, Tokoroa and Taumarunui could see frosts and overnight temperatures down to between zero and two degrees.
The South Island is also in the firing line for chilly temperatures with Owen warning Christchurch, Blenheim, Marlborough and Timaru will all see close to zero-degree temperatures.
"This is exactly when there's going to be a lot of people out and about for those dawn services, so people will need to wrap up warm for that," Owen said.
But it won't be cold all day with Owen saying temperatures will rise to the mid-teens for most places.
"We're looking at high temperatures around about average for this time of year, sort of in the mid to high teens throughout the country," Owen said.
"So the cold is not going to linger throughout the day. The weather is looking pretty settled for the North Island in particular. It's looking pretty dry for most of the island and then just from the afternoon onwards, we're looking at a little bit of cloud and maybe a light shower or two to western parts but the east should remain fine."
But the parts of the South Island could be hit by another front coming up the country.
"We do have another front coming up, unfortunately, so that's going to bring rain to those western areas and also the far south," Owen told Newshub.
"But it will only make it as far as sort of Otago by the evening. So the rest of the east of the South Island should be looking at another fine day."
MetService has also issued a strong wind watch for parts of the South Island and lower North Island.
Coastal parts of Southland including Clutha and Stewart Island are in for strong winds from 4am to 4pm on Tuesday.
The Canterbury High Country is also in for strong winds from 4pm on Tuesday to 1am on Wednesday, while further north, Tasman south of Motueka, there is a watch in place from 11pm on Tuesday to 7am on Wednesday.
There is also a watch in place for Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay south of Hastings from 10pm on Tuesday to 9am on Wednesday.
MetServices' thunderstorm outlook shows there is a "low risk" of thunderstorms around eastern Wellington and southeastern Wairarapa on Monday morning, with the risk continuing in southern and eastern Wairarapa this afternoon.
MetService is also warning about a "moderate risk" of a few thunderstorms in the Chatham Islands on Monday afternoon and evening, with brief heavy rain and hail.
