Wet and windy weather to close out year

File photo / Chris Gorman

Party-goers will be swapping their sunglasses and suncream for umbrellas and rain macs to see in the New Year as the sunny weather which has brightened the holidays looks set to pass.

A fresh blast of wet and windy weather is set to hit the country, which has only started to enjoy more seasonal conditions after a slow start to the summer, MetService says.

A weather system moving across the Tasman Sea would bring a soggy start to 2015, meteorologist John Law said.

"Monday will be a good day to keep a close eye on the rain radar, especially if you are venturing out into the ranges, as we are likely to see some showers springing up through the afternoon and some of these could bring a rumble of thunder," he said.

Bands of rain are forecast to move from the Tasman Sea across the country by December 31.

"It looks like we will all get a chance to see some wet weather to end the year," Mr Law said.

"The timings of these features are going to be critical in determining which parts of the country stay dry when the clock strikes midnight."

Revellers in the north of the country should "keep a raincoat handy", Mr Law said, with a front expected to bring cloud and rain in Auckland for the countdown.

The wet weather should hopefully clear in Wellington and the upper South Island before midnight, but Wednesday would likely be blustery throughout the day.

In Christchurch, a showery southwest change should arrive after midnight, Mr Law said.

The wet and windy change comes after scorching summer temperatures over Christmas, with Blenheim peaking at 29C on the 25th and Masterton reaching 27C.

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New Year's Eve weather:

* Whangarei - Occasional rain developing with fresh northerlies and a high of 23C.

* Auckland - Occasional rain developing, fresh northerlies and a high of 22C.

* Hamilton - Occasional rain developing and a fresh northerly wind. A high of 22C.

* Tauranga - Cloudy with showers and evening rain, freshening northerly winds and a high of 22C.

* Wellington - Rain develops during the day but clears by night, a strong or gale-force northerly wind, and a high of 19C.

* Christchurch - Brief rain in the afternoon, a few late showers, with a strong northerly wind turning southwesterly, and a high of 28C.

* Dunedin - Rain at times, strong northerly changes to the southwest, and a high of 22C.

(Source: MetService)