How long will Waikato’s big chill last?

Monday, 27 July 2026

Commuters cross Hamilton’s Victoria Bridge on Monday morning as temperatures in the city dipped below -2.

Waikato has shivered through a freezing start to the week, with temperatures dropping below zero across the region and more frosty mornings on the way.

Hamilton Airport recorded -2.3C overnight, while Hinuera and Ruakura fell to -1.8C and Matamata reached -1.3C.

MetService says clear skies and light winds are expected to keep overnight temperatures low for the next few days, bringing heavy frosts to sheltered areas before cloud and northerly winds arrive later in the week.

MetService meteorologist Devlin Lynden said the overnight temperatures showed it was “pretty damn cold” across the region.

He said places like Taumarunui and the King Country were much colder.

“There’s likely going to be.. isolated and sheltered valleys where temperatures would have dropped much lower.”

Lynden said the cool temperatures and clear skies would stick around for the next few days.

“It's that continuation of these clear skies, and light winds. It just allows that heat to really escape overnight.

“The sort of successive days means that each night can just get a little bit colder.”

This would bring heavy frosts to sheltered valleys, he said.

The region is also likely to see “northerly winds pick up, and perhaps a bit more cloud cover move in” by mid-week.