More changeable weather is in the forecast for New Zealand in the week before Christmas with a few showers here and there – one or two with hail and thunder.

For people heading away this weekend Friday looks fairly settled, but the winds will crank up and by Saturday strong to gale force winds may affect inland Canterbury and Wellington region.

But the forecast for Christmas Day still can’t be ‘locked in’ due to the changeable spring-like nature of the current weather pattern, which will be with us for the rest of December.