Cold weather is set to grip parts of New Zealand next week, with sub-zero temperatures expected in parts of the country.
Additionally, a low over the Tasman Sea was expected to spread rain onto the North Island on Tuesday night.
Forecasters said sharp falls in temperatures were expected at the start of next week.
"Overnight, temperatures plummet as winds ease. Temps to -3C are forecast for Canterbury," national forecaster MetService said on Sunday.
The weather in Twizel, a town in south Canterbury, was expected to plunge to -4C on Monday morning, while Christchurch and Timaru could expect -3C.
"A powerful high-pressure zone remains south of Australia and between that high and this week's low-pressure zone (now departing from New Zealand) it places a south to south-west flow across our country," said WeatherWatch. "This means colder or cooler nights and morning mornings for many regions."
In the north, rain was expected from Tuesday night - followed by possible strong southwest winds on Wednesday.
In parts of Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel in the north and Dunedin and Clutha in the south, there was "low confidence of a period of severe southwest gales", MetService said in its severe weather outlook.
Other major cities, including Wellington and Christchurch, could also expect rain on Wednesday.
Newshub.
