Northland weather: What to expect this Christmas

As in this photo of holidaymakers previously enjoying time out at Langs Beach between Christmas and New Years, the weather this festive season is not expected to be too intolerably hot. Photo/Michael Cunningham

Metservice forecasters are predicting a mixed bag for Northland this Christmas.

Christmas Day is expected to start fine, possibly reaching a top temperature of 25C before the day gives way to cloudier conditions and showers developing in the afternoon.

Northwesterlies are expected throughout the day.

Boxing Day bargain hunters might want to take a coat and umbrella as cloud and rain are forecast for most of the day and northwesterlies are predicted to turn southwesterly during the afternoon.

Temperatures will vary between a high of 23C and a low of about 16C.

The rain eases during the evening.

Metservice Te Ratonga Tirorangi meteorologist Oscar Shiviti said the weather this festive season was due to a low-pressure system approaching New Zealand from the west.

Its associated front will move over Northland on Christmas Day, hence the wet weather, which will persist as the low moves over on Boxing Day.

“In 2023, we had a very similar story in terms of the weather system affecting Northland. A low with its associated fronts approaching from the west moved over Northland on Christmas and Boxing Day, bringing cloudy and wet conditions,” Shiviti said.

“In 2022, there was a high-pressure system over Northland bringing sunny spells with sea breezes to Christmas and Boxing Day.”

As for the long-range forecast, Shiviti said Northlanders could enjoy normal sunny conditions through to January 19, with the exception of the week beginning December 30, which is expected to be drier than average.