Bay of Plenty residents can expect a warmer start to the week after a bitterly cold weekend.

In its latest weather update, the MetService said rain was likely as a weather system moves across the country.

Many parts of New Zealand recorded their coldest temperatures of the year on Sunday morning, with temperatures dropping below freezing across large areas of both islands.

Around the central North Island plateau, temperatures fell to -6.2C, while Lake Tekapo recorded the country’s lowest temperature at -12.5C.

However, MetService said temperatures would steadily rise this week as strengthening northwesterly winds bring milder air across the country.

For Bay of Plenty, the warmer conditions would be accompanied by periods of rain as a band of wet weather moves north from the South Island and reaches the North Island overnight Monday.

MetService warned of a risk of thunderstorms with strong wind gusts in some western parts of the country, including Taranaki in the early hours of Tuesday.

The most severe weather is expected further south, where a Heavy Rain Watch has been issued for the Westland Ranges and a Strong Wind Watch is in place for Canterbury High Country.

MetService meteorologist Michael Pawley said the weather pattern this week would favour eastern regions.

“This week we see westerly winds bringing in waves of showers, so if you’re looking for drier weather for the second week of the school holidays, the best bet is to travel east,” he said.

While Bay of Plenty was likely to see unsettled conditions at times, temperatures would be noticeably warmer than those experienced over the weekend. Elsewhere in the North Island, Hawke’s Bay is forecast to reach 19C on Wednesday.

The change comes after a widespread cold snap saw frost blanket lawns in areas as far north as Auckland, where Auckland Airport recorded its coldest temperature of the year at 2.5C.

Forecasters expect the westerly pattern to continue through much of the week, bringing alternating periods of showers and fine weather across the country.