The forecast for Christmas day is starting to firm up now and WeatherWatch.co.nz forecaster Philip Duncan says most places should be “ok but not perfect” for being outdoors.

“The low coming from the sub-tropics won’t deliver huge rain levels tonight and most places in the west will only see a few showers or drizzle patches overnight”.

During Christmas Eve Mr Duncan says the low will move out towards the Chatham Islands quite quickly with high air pressure moving in behind it.  “Sunny, settled, weather is expected for most of the main tourist spots like the Bay of Islands, Coromandel Peninsula, Napier, Nelson and Queenstown/Wanaka”. 

Coastal clouds may affect Auckland and other western centres from time to time with winds from the west.

In Wellington a late southerly may bring a few short showers although conditions are still expected to be “relatively ok” for much of the day.

Eastern parts of the North Island may enjoy sunny skies and temperatures into the mid 20s.

A cold southerly will affect Southland and coastal Otago but should peter out as it moves further north.  “The wind chill in Invercargill, Dunedin and Oamaru may be as low as 9 or 10 degrees but in sheltered areas it may feel more like the mid to late teens”. 

A few showers are also possible for the South Island’s east coast, but again nothing significant, according to Mr Duncan.

Christchurch may receive one or two showers but most places that are forecast to have showers across New Zealand on Christmas Day should experience long dry periods as well.