North Island towns and cities record coldest temperatures of the year

Author: Herald Reporters,
Publish Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2026, 2:34pm

Cities and towns across the North Island awoke to their coldest temperatures of the year this morning.

Clear skies and light winds paved the way for heat to escape overnight, leaving many New Zealanders reaching for their beanies, scarves and gloves as they left home today.

Hamilton fell to -2.8C, Rotorua to -3.9C, Taupō to -5.6C, New Plymouth to 0C, Masterton to -4.4C, Levin to -2.6C, Porirua to -2.7C, Wellington to 1.7C, while Christchurch plummeted to a shivering -4.7C, all record lows for the year.

MetService’s website showed Auckland’s central city sitting on 5C early this morning, while temperatures in West Auckland were as low as 2C.

Earlier today, the entire country was in single-digit temperatures, with Twizel the coldest at -7C and the Chatham Islands the warmest with 8.4C. On the mainland, Kaitāia was the hottest city or town at 7.7C.

MetService meteorologist Devlin Lynden said “with calm, clear nights, heat escapes easily into the atmosphere, allowing temperatures to plummet before sunrise”.

“Sheltered inland valleys become even frostier as cold air settles into low-lying areas”.

Frosty mornings are set to continue through the first half of the week, especially across the North Island. Photo / Michael Craig

Another cold start is forecast tomorrow, but overnight temperatures will gradually become less severe as northerly winds develop later in the week, he said.

Chilly mornings will be commonplace throughout the first half of the week, especially in the North Island.

In the South Island, although this morning was frosty for many places, increasing northerly winds have prevented temperatures from dropping too far.

Wind coming to the South Island on Tuesday and Wednesday “will put a cap on overnight low temperatures”, Lynden said.

On Thursday, rain is expected to reach the western South Island as a front moves on to the country, with showers spreading elsewhere as it crosses.

Behind it, cooler southwesterly winds return, bringing another drop in temperatures and the potential for snow to affect skifields and alpine passes.

The calmer and colder conditions today came after a turbulent weekend where thunderstorms, heavy rain and 100km/h wind gusts battered parts of the country, while slips forced highway closures.