Weather: Possible thunderstorms, gales as cold change sweeps up New Zealand

There may be a few isolated thunderstorms around central New Zealand.
There may be a few isolated thunderstorms around central New Zealand. Photo credit: Getty

"What happened to the heat?": This week's warm weather is disappearing as a cooler change sweeps up New Zealand on Sunday.

As the crumbling cold front moves northwards and falls apart over the North Island, temperatures will shift down from feeling like summer to autumn.

"As this cooler change sweeps through there may be a few isolated thunderstorms around central New Zealand. Winds will be blustery with gales in some exposed places," WeatherWatch says.

"In northern New Zealand, like Auckland, daytime highs will be down a couple or few degrees on the past day. But in the lower South Island, some places will be down several degrees on yesterday."

MetService says on Sunday afternoon and evening there is a moderate risk of isolated thunderstorms from coastal Waitomo down to Kapiti, including Taihape (especially inland), and a moderate risk about the ranges of north Canterbury and southern Marlborough (including Kaikoura).

Temperatures are expected to pick up again later this week.