Winter is definitely here with a chilly start on Friday for much of the country.
Many Kiwis woke to a blanket of white frost outside as temperatures dropped into the negatives across the South Island
MetService said there were also a few pockets of early morning frost around inland areas such as Waikato.
It continues the first major cold snap of the year this week.
Down south, Ōmarama was a chilly -9 degrees, followed by Fairlie and Dunedin Airport at -6 degrees, Lewis Pass at -5 degrees, Pukaki at -4 degrees and Queenstown at -3 degrees.
According to WeatherWatch fog in the South Island is what's keeping temperatures low.
"Low cloud or fog is lingering during the day for some inland parts of the lower South Island, this occurred yesterday and may occur again today," it said.
"So while temperatures without fog would have only got up to 7 or 8 degrees, instead some spots are looking to get no higher than 2 or 3, in rare circumstances certain areas may not get above 0."
MetService said on Friday a high pressure sits over the South Island bringing fine, dry and settled weather.
For much of the North Island, it is also a fine and dry Friday but easterly air brings cloudy and showery weather for the east coast from Hawke's Bay and up towards Gisborne.
The rainfall is expected to get heavier through the night time as low-pressure moves in from the east.
Here's MetService's extended forecast:
aturday
North Island: Rain in Gisborne and Hawke's Bay. Partly cloudy with isolated showers elsewhere, more widespread for Taupō, Taihape, Bay of Plenty and Waikato. South Island: Cloud and isolated showers in the east clearing to fine. Rain developing for Fiordland and southern Westland. Mainly fine elsewhere.
Sunday
North Island: Rain easing to showers for Gisborne and Hawke's Bay. A few showers elsewhere, clearing in the evening. South Island: Periods of rain in Fiordland and Stewart Island. Showers spreading north in Westland. Mainly fine elsewhere.
Monday
North Island: Mainly fine. Isolated showers about Gisborne, and the west coast north of Taranaki. South Island: Showers in the west and south gradually clearing. Partly cloudy elsewhere.
Chatham Islands
A few showers on Saturday and Sunday with easterlies. Rain developing on Monday, possibly heavy, with winds turning northerly.
A few photos from the South Island:
Check out the photos below of the stunning frosts across the South Island this morning:
A 'frozen' tree glistens in the morning sunshine near Lake Onslow.
Meanwhile in Twizel, eerie fog blanketed the town along with severe frost, making for some incredible photos.
