Wintry conditions that have chilled parts of Manawatu to sub-zero temperatures are expected to lift today.

Forecasters are predicting mild weather and spring frosts just around the corner for much of the central region.

MetService forecaster Philippa Murdoch said Manawatu could expect a clearing trend in the next few days.

Earlier this week Manawatu felt the effects of a cold snap sweeping the country, with a hail storm in Palmerston North and light snow falling in the outskirts of the region on Tuesday.

But finer weather has been forecast for Palmerston North and wider Manawatu.

The expected high today is 13 degrees Celsius. Clouds will loom after another frost recorded this morning.

But the clearing trend will herald a slightly warmer, cloudy weekend.

The cold and showery southwest that flowed across New Zealand yesterday has begun to ease for Manawatu. MetService forecasters predicted Manawatu had seen the back of a wave of intermittent showers that yesterday formed as a ridge of high pressure came in from the Tasman Sea.

Frosts and icy roads were still a hazard overnight, MetService warned.

A light dumping of snow could still be on the cards for the wider central region, Ms Murdoch said.

Taihape residents could expect a dusting of snow in coming days, as could motorists driving over the Desert Road, which was closed along with Rimutaka Hill Rd on Tuesday.

There were no road warnings in place today for the central region.

The Desert Road and Rimutaka Hill Rd both reopened yesterday morning.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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