A refreshing southerly change has now spread nationwide and has dropped temperatures by a few to several below where they should be for late February.

Around half of the country has a colder than normal Monday at the warmest point of the day (this afternoon) while a number of other areas have simply reset to 'normal', says WeatherWatch.co.nz

"Tonight, as winds fade further, temperatures will be below normal in almost every part of the country.

"However it's short lived - the last of the southerly fades out around Hawke's Bay and Gisborne on Tuesday as a warmer than average westerly kicks back in over the South Island (ahead of another shorter lived cooler change moving up southern and eastern NZ from Weds to Fri)."

Minimum temperature departure from north on Monday.

Maximum temperature from normal on Tuesday.