New Zealand shivers as winter temperatures set in across the country

Time to get the electric blanket out as regions drop to below zero.
Time to get the electric blanket out as regions drop to below zero. Photo credit: Getty

Kiws across the country woke up to a serious drop in temperatures with some regions shivering below zero.

At 7am on Thursday Masterton, Palmerston North, Hamilton and Timaru all recorded temperatures below zero with frost in places. 

Wellington was the warmest according to Metservice at 11 degrees while Taupo and Napier sat at zero.

However Weather Watch reports the freezing temperatures won't last long - a high pressure will slip off the South Island later on Thursday leading to warmer, breezier conditions. 

Most regions are looking at highs in the mid to late teens with Northland, Auckland and the Bay of Plenty hitting 18 degrees.

The East Coast is also predicted to peak at 18 but the West Coast, Wellington and Otago will need to rug up with their top temperatures only forecast to reach 16 degrees.

 South Island residents might need to grab an umbrella too with the potential for heavy rain setting in for Fiordland.

By 6am on Friday Weather Watch forecasts around 150mm of rain will fall in the Fiordland mountains with slips possible.

As for the North Island, Wellington could get a drop of drizzle but the rest of the island should stay dry.