Fine for weekend, rain for Christmas

Tis the season...for sunshine!

MetService meteorologists are predicting an early Christmas present in the form of sun this coming weekend - good news for those heading off on holiday.

The bad news is it may not be so flash on the big day.

Metservice spokesman Bob McDavitt said a cold front was moving over the country on Christmas Eve.

"The front earlier this week brought a very welcome 20 to 40 mm of rain to eastern areas, but the Christmas front is not expected to be as intense or last as long," he said.

Rain from this front should arrive over Fiordland on Sunday and spread over the western South Island on Monday before reaching central parts of the country on Christmas Eve.

"On Christmas Day the forecast is for clearing weather over the South Island with rain affecting western and northern parts of the North Island."

"After the Christmas Eve front, a settled period of sunny dry weather is forecast for most places lasting from Boxing Day until late in the week".

- NZPA