A Christmas Day spent inside is looking likely, as the rainy weather is forecast to continue.
MetService meteorologist John Law said they are tracking high pressure over the Christmas week, but this all depends on the moisture and rain over the weekend.
It's likely a northeasterly will feed cloud and rain, making Christmas day a "cloudy and wet story".
WeatherWatch's Philip Duncan said the high pressure may reach lower parts of Hawke's Bay, from Napier southwards.
"The more north you go, the higher chance of a shower."
MetService said to keep an eye out on the forecast over the weekend and look for the wind change - the northeasterly comes from the sea, bringing cooler temperatures and wet weather, while the northwesterly is a warmer scene with drier weather.
At this stage, tomorrow and Saturday are looking good, with a northwesterly flow bringing heat and sun, but on Sunday the rain continues.
Mr Duncan said a low will form on Sunday, bringing wet and cloudy periods especially in the north of the region.