One area has recorded its coldest temperature in nearly two decades this morning as a cold snap continues to bite across the country.
MetService said "the mercury has plummeted across the country with many places recording their coldest temperature this year".
"Auckland is the coldest it's been since 2021, and Taumarunui has recorded its 3rd coldest temperature ever (records begin in 2007)," the forecaster said.
MetService meteorologist Braydon White told 1News that Auckland Airport recorded 1.5C, and Whenuapai Airport recorded -2.5C this morning.
On June 30, 2021 Auckland Airport recorded 1.3C.
He said Taumaranui had dropped even further this morning, to its second coldest temperature ever of -6.4C at 8am.
The coldest temperature recorded in Taumaranui since records began there in 2007 was -6.8C in 2010.
White said this was "close to the record, but not quite".
Shortly after 6am MetService meteorologist Maddy Neal said Mount Cook airport recorded a low of –10C this morning.
She said Pukaki Airport recorded –9C at that time.
"Alexandra got down to –8C as of 6am this morning, and Christchurch got down to –3.7C as of 6am this morning."
Tourist hotspot Queenstown recorded –5.2C.
Invercargill recorded –5.3C, which was their coldest recorded temperature this year.
Neal said there were also "very cold temperatures across the North Island today".
Hamilton Airport recorded –2.4C at 5am.
“Wellington was a bit warmer, we only got down to a minimum of 7.8C this morning,” she said.
“There's been a little bit of cloud about, so that has kept that wee bit warmer.”
Taupō recorded –5.8C, and Palmerston North got down to –2.8C.
Temperatures noticeably plummeted earlier this week and have continued to stay cold across the country, prompting some traffic chaos in Dunedin and rare snow flurries in Wellington.
Yesterday Transpower said it was keeping a close eye on the situation, saying it did not anticipate any impact to electricity supply and New Zealanders did not need to take any action.
It told 1News this morning that it was looking likely that a new record had be set for electricity use.
MetService warned that tomorrow morning could be even colder, especially for the North Island, so people should "make the most of todays afternoon sunshine".
Neal said there would likely be "frost for most parts of the North Island tomorrow morning and also the South Island too.
“Hamilton and Te Kuiti are looking like some of the coldest for the North Island at –5C being forecast for tomorrow morning.
“Also the likes of Dannevirke and Masterton and the Wairarapa also looking very cold.”
Drivers were urged to slow down, drive to the conditions and watch out for black ice.
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including a billboard blunder for Auckland’s CRL, dangerous turbulence on a flight, and a new twist in the Beckham family feud. (Source: 1News)
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