Sunblock vital in Northland for Christmas Day with sun forecast

Santa will need his sunblock when visiting Northland on Christmas Day, with the forecast for plenty of sunshine in between cloudy patches and temperatures 25C-plus.

Sunblock and shade will be essential in Northland on Christmas Day with plenty of sunshine forecast and temperatures likely to hit 25C-plus.

Northland could be the place to be on December 25, with MetService meteorologist Andy Best saying Christmas Day should be a lively day across the region, though there is a chance of some isolated showers.

Mr Best said partly cloudy conditions are forecast for the area from Coromandel north, but the day will largely be dry.

In Northland, he said, there will be cloudy patches throughout the day, but plenty of sunny spells for people to enjoy the outdoors.

''There's a slight chance of some showers, but if they come, they will be light and very isolated, and confined to the north-east coast as sea breezes may bring some moist air,'' Mr Best said.

''The temperatures should hit a high of at least 25C and the overnight low for Christmas Day/Boxing Day will be 16C, so it may get a little bit humid up there. But there will be a gentle onshore breeze that may help. Generally it should be quite nice really for Northland, with plenty of fine, sunny spells, and sunblock will be essential, The old slip, slop, slap and wrap message is going to be important to heed.''

He said even when it is cloudy sunblock should still be used outside as the harmful rays will still get through the clouds.

The fine weather will see people flocking to the region's beaches. Five of the region's surf beaches are now patrolled seven days a week until mid-January.

Surf Lifesaving NZ's paid lifeguards will be patrolling the beaches — Ahipara, Ocean Bach, Waipu Cove, Ruakaka and Mangawhai — on weekdays, and volunteers will patrol the beaches every summer weekend, technically up to 5pm, but many stay on much later if the crowds remain.

Surf Life Saving Northern Region (SLSNR) Operations Manager Adam Wooler said if people are not familiar with the beach they are swimming at, they should check in with the lifeguards first. The SafeSwim site to check on surf conditions and safe swimming tips is at www.safeswim.org.nz.