MetService is forecasting a week of two halves, with frosty mornings, clear days and chilly nights to kick off the week, then wet weather looming toward the end.

Settled weather and cool overnight temperatures are expected for many, as a broad ridge of high pressure dominates New Zealand early this week.

Single-digit overnight temperatures will be felt by much of the country over the next few days, with the potential for central North Island areas to drop into the negatives on Tuesday morning.

In Tauranga, overnight lows are expected to be around 9C until around Thursday.

The MetService said the ridge will bring clear skies for most, but it does push some coastal cloud and a few showers onto the east of the North Island, and the west of the South Island.

A return to more normal temperatures is expected heading into Wednesday and Thursday, as northerlies begin to build, drawing warmer air down from the tropics.

“Warmer doesn’t always mean better,” said meteorologist Devlin Lynden.

“These relatively settled conditions aren’t expected to last. A band of rain is building in the Tasman, pulling warm, moist air from the tropics, resulting in some wet weather later this week.”

As this system approaches, strong northwesterlies are expected to develop over the lower South Island late Wednesday, potentially bringing gusty conditions to exposed areas.

This extends to the lower North Island on Friday.

The wet weather is set to move on to the south of the South Island early Thursday morning, and quickly move north, affecting much of the country come Friday.

“With a crisp, clear start to the week, and wet conditions approaching, don’t be caught off guard and keep up to date with the latest forecasts at metservice.com,” Lynden said.