A 'cold air mass” is moving up the country and will hit Tauranga this afternoon, according to MetService broadcast meteorologist Angus Hines.

Over the last few days, there has been a large discrepancy between temperatures in the North and South Island. Angus suggests this is to do with chilly air which is slowly making its way north.

This comes as a thunderstorm watch was issued for the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel earlier today.

'The cold air mass has also been bringing a decent dose of rain to many parts of the South Island yesterday. Some of those light showers have been coming down as snow showers, particularly in colder areas like ski fields. It's not a lot, but it's enough to give that winter landscape in the middle of summer.

'This afternoon, we will see the chilly air come to the North Island, it won't be matching quite what the South Island experienced yesterday, but the temperature will certainly noticeably drop.”

For Tauranga and the rest of the upper North Island, Angus says temperatures will remain in the 'early 20s” this afternoon, and Friday will see most places in the upper North Island sitting 'around the late teens, and maybe brushing those low 20s in some spots”.

The worst of the incoming cold blast and showers are set for Friday according to Angus, which he says will start to clear on Saturday morning and early afternoon.

'The weekend should start to clear up a bit after this.”

On how long the cold air will last in Tauranga, Angus says it should be noticeably lower on Friday, and 'maybe a couple of days after”.

'After those few days, people should expect the temperatures to climb back to what they're used to.”

People who wish to soak up the sun this weekend may still be able to do so, as the weather is looking to clear around Saturday afternoon.

For the latest Tauranga forecast, visit the MetService website.