Coastal communities in Wairarapa could face a day of towering waves on Tuesday as officials warn of possible flooding.
It comes after parts of New Zealand have bit hit by heavy rain or snow overnight, while the South Island is set to experience extreme cold in the coming days.
In Otago, authorities closed the Lindis Pass (State Highway 8) on Monday night due to snow. The route reopened at 8am on Tuesday. In the North Island, rain was expected to fall throughout Tuesday - with cold winds expected to hit Wellington.
"It's the wind combined with the colder temperatures - it's going to make it feel sub-zero," said NIWA principal scientist Chris Brandolino. "That's what'll make it feel much colder and you get these showers chucked in as well - it just makes for a really blustery, brisk day."
There would also be some big swells, Brandolino told AM.
In Wairarapa, MetService is warning of 6m waves between Turakirae Head and Mataikona from 6am on Tuesday until at least 3am on Wednesday.
"Heavy swells are expected with southwest combined waves rising to 6 metres Tuesday night, then easing Wednesday afternoon," the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office said.
"[The] southerly swell is set to rise to 5 metres Tuesday night, then easing Wednesday afternoon.
"These swells could bring debris and surface flooding to roads, especially around high tide (the highest risk period is typically at or within 1-2 hours of high tide)."
In the short-term, Brandolino said temperatures would remain cold. On Wednesday, Queenstown was set to record an overnight temperature of -4C.
However, temperatures wouldn't stay that way for long, he said.
"Mid-month and beyond, there's going to be a significant and noteworthy change in our weather," Brandolino told AM host Lloyd Burr.
"It's going to be a month of two halves; the first rough half of the month is going to be cold... [and] pretty dry but, as we get toward say the end of next week, there's going to be this big old fat high that comes in over the country.
"If you've got a home barometer, watch that thing go up later next week. We're going to find some really, really cold mornings next week... and then, during the day, we get some sun and that'll warm things up."
Newshub.
