UPDATED
Much of the country will see a settled day today apart from some cloud this morning and some showers in the northeastern areas of the North island first thing but sunshine should prevail almost everywhere by lunchtime

New Years day is looking sunny and warm for the North island and much of the South island but cloud and wind will build and some rain in the west and south is a probability.

Check out our New Years Eve and New Years Day forecasts below…

Northland:  Both days: Mostly sunny in the east, a little cloudier in the west.   Sou’westers fairly brisk along the west coast but dying out.  Highs: In the low 20s.

Auckland & Hamilton: Mainly sunny with lighter winds. Fairly clear skies again tomorrow with even lighter sou’westers. Highs: In the low 20s today, mid 20s tomorrow.

Tauranga & Rotorua:  Sunny both days and hotter on New years Day with light westerlies.  Highs: Low to mid 20s.

Gisborne: Sou’westers and clear skies later.  Highs: Coolish today but much hotter tomorrow.  Those winds easing back today .

Taupo & Napier:  A little cloudy to begin with on New Years Eve but sunny and hot on New Years Day.  Highs: Around 20 on Thurs, low to mid 20s on Fri.

New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North:  Mostly dry today and tomorrow with plenty of sunshine. breezy winds ease back today and warmer tomorrow with temperatures rising to the low to mid 20s. possible late shower in New Plymouth tomorrow night.

Masterton:  Becoming sunny today but on tomorrow the nor’westers kicking in.  Highs: Early 20s then mid 20s.

Wellington:  Fairly cloudy at first possibly with southerlies easing,  strong to near gale northerlies developing tomorrow but dry and mostly sunny.  Highs: Mid to late teens today then late teens/early 20s tomorrow.  Severe gales possible on the Rimutaka Ranges.

Nelson & Blenheim:  Sunny both days but nor’westers developing tomorrow – very strong/gale in exposed areas. Highs: Mid 20s.

Christchurch & Timaru:  Southerlies and the odd cloud, otherwise sunny today then north to north west winds building tomorrow but sunny.  Highs: Nudging 20 today then late 20s tomorrow, if not 30 inland.

Dunedin & Queenstown:  Gusty sou’westers and some clouds on New Years Eve, easing towards evening, nor’westers kicking in on New Years Day.  Highs: Mid to late teens on NY Eve, then low to mid 20s on NY Day.

Invercargill:  Some rain or showers today with gusty westerlies.  High in the mid to late teens.  Tomorrow stronger nor’westers, gale in some exposed parts of Southland but drier and warmer.  High in the low 20s.

Greymouth: Partly cloudy today but rain tomorrow with a northerly moving in..  Highs: Around 17 or 18