MetService is forecasting Christmas Day weather will be a mixed bag depending on where you are in the country.
Sunset at Tahunanui Beach, Nelson. Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal
A low pressure trough moving across the country today and tomorrow is forecast to bring rain to the southern and central regions, as well as strong northerly winds to the centre of the country.
Nothern regions are expected to be cloudy with some rain or showers on the horizon in the lead-up to Christmas, but temperatures will remain warm in the mid-20s.
On Christmas Day, mostly fine and warm weather is expected across northern and central parts of the country. But southerlies from the Tasman Sea will bring cooler winds and showers, especially to eastern regions of the South Island.
Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga will be mostly sunny on Christmas, with temperatures in the early to mid-20s, while Wellington will have cloudy periods, dying southerlies and a high of 19.
For Christchurch and Dunedin it should be mostly cloudy with a few showers, and easterlies keeping temperatures to a high of 16C.
Snow is even forecast down to a thousand metres over the South Island this weekend.
MetService meteorologist Peter Little said the weather in the lead-up to Christmas was not too ideal for completing last minute chores in the backyard.
"Although the forecast is dry for much of the country on Christmas Day, there will be some places that get rain or showers, especially in the south. If you're planning on having your Christmas meal outdoors it would be wise to consult your forecast on metservice.com to see whether you need a back-up plan."
Southerlies will then spread over the weekend, from Boxing Day, bringing unseasonably cold temperatures to the south and centre of the country and rain to eastern areas.
"A maximum temperature of just 13C is forecast for Ashburton on Saturday, which is around 8C below average for this time of year. In the Capital, a chilly 14C high and strong southerlies are forecast for Sunday," Little said.