A burst of winter chill is making its presence felt across the Bay of Plenty, with forecasters warning even typically mild coastal areas could see patches of frost this week.

Temperatures have dropped sharply overnight across parts of the country, with MetService reporting some of the coldest readings of the year, and the effects are being felt locally as crisp mornings and cooler days settle in.

MetService meteorologist Paris Marshall said the cold snap was unusual for northern regions, including the Bay of Plenty.

“Even Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and the Coromandel – areas that are usually too warm to see frost – will see some patches,” Marshall said.

The drop in temperatures is being driven by a large high-pressure system sitting over New Zealand, bringing calm and settled conditions. While the sunshine may appear inviting, the lack of cloud and wind is allowing heat to escape overnight, resulting in colder mornings and increased frost risk.

Looking ahead, the region is likely to remain under the influence of the high-pressure system through much of the weekend, keeping conditions fine but chilly, especially at night.

A weakening band of rain is expected to move up the country from the South Island on Friday, but forecasters say it is unlikely to bring significant rainfall to the Bay of Plenty.

Marshall said the high-pressure system is acting as a barrier.

“You could say the high is acting like a warrior in holding its ground, weakening the rain band as it moves northwards,” she said.

The settled conditions are expected to provide favourable weather for events and travel across the upper North Island, including those heading away for Fieldays.

However, the reprieve is not expected to last, with a change on the horizon early next week.

A new weather system, accompanied by warmer air, is forecast to move in from late Sunday, bringing an end to the cold high and increasing the chance of wetter conditions to start the week.