Soggy Christmas on cards

Tauranga is set for a wet Christmas.

Don't bank on getting the barbecue out for Christmas as Tauranga looks set for yet another rainy Christmas Day.

MetService released its 10-day forecast yesterday and has predicted rain with light winds for next Thursday with a high of 23C, dropping to 16C overnight.

However, meteorologist John Law said it was too soon to let the forecast dictate the holiday.

"There's plenty of time for the forecast to change ... Keep an eye on the forecast, but don't let it ruin your holiday yet."

The MetService forecast and temperatures for the next five days were determined by meteorologists whereas the following five were automatically generated by MetService's computer weather modelling system.

Therefore, there was room for change.

A severe weather watch was issued for the Bay of Plenty last night as a front associated with a low over the north Tasman Sea approached northern New Zealand.

But it was the northerly winds expected in the coming days and weeks that threatened to bring some bad weather, Mr Law said.

"It looks like we'll get northerly winds which can bring more cloud down.

"It all depends on on how much moisture is left behind from these systems," he said.

The forecast showed the last of the sunshine disappearing on Friday, making way for a soggy Tauranga Christmas in the Park on Saturday.

Strong winds were creating rough and messy seas this week, but 35-knot winds overnight were expected to ease to 20 knots by this afternoon.