Temperatures due to plunge

A cold front is on the way that will bring an abrupt drop in temperature to the South Island tomorrow.

MetService forecasts the squally front will pass over the South Island from Dunedin to Christchurch on Tuesday.

 Bob McDavitt, MetService Weather Ambassador said winds would gust up to 100km per hour and that a dusting of snow was likely on the high ground of South Otago.

On Tuesday night and Wednesday morning the front is expected to become less active as it moves towards the North Island. 

Clearing skies over Otago may allow air temperatures to plummet to near zero.

McDavitt said  temperatures over the eastern South Island are likely to behave like a roller coaster.

"Queenstown is forecast to reach 20 degrees during the day on Tuesday and then plunge to 2 degrees for Wednesday morning.

"Christchurch should go up to 25 degrees and then drop to around 7, and Dunedin should drop from 17 to 7. Things are expected to warm to 20 degrees again by the weekend," he said.

High country farmers and those likely to be affected by this abrupt drop in temperature are advised to plan accordingly and double check the latest weather forecasts and warnings from the MetService web site www.metservice.co.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News