Weather forecast: Changeable week ahead of Christmas

Everyone is holding out for a fine weather forecast for Christmas this weekend. Photo / Alan Gibson

If variety is the spice of life, this week is set to be a lively one.

From extreme gusts and heavy downpours to mild temperatures and sunny spells the week leading up to Christmas will have it all.

MetService meteorologist Frances Russell said several fronts would whip over the country - and each one would bring turbulent weather with it.

Northland, the Coromandel and Auckland will have the best start to the week, while parts of the west coast of the South Island are in for heavy rain and Southland can expect windy conditions.

Today, Russell said, a severe weather watch warned that the south coast of Southland and Stewart Island would be blasted with hefty westerly winds until evening. Gusts were expected to get up to 120km/h.

Otago was expected to have slightly less severe winds. "We will certainly be keeping an eye on those winds."

The front would bring rain followed by showers as it moved over the country, although Canterbury and North Otago would be mostly dry. Showers could get heavy around Fiordland and the coastal part of Southland. Showers would clear south of Taupo during the evening.

Russell said tomorrow was looking like the most settled day for the country so far.

"We've got a front on Monday then we have a ridge which generally brings settled weather.

"Once that front goes through, Tuesday looks pretty settled."

Showers were expected to mainly clear tomorrow although a few would linger in Fiordland and Northland for much of the day.

On Wednesday, northwesterlies were expected to develop and strengthen around the South Island. A front would move on to the South Island, bringing heavy falls to the west coast with high cloud in the east.

Other parts of the south would see scattered rain.

The North Island is mainly fine with isolated showers in Northland and the Bay of Plenty.

On Thursday, the front continues to move over the South Island and southern parts of the North Island. This will bring showers to central New Zealand in places like Kapiti and Wellington.

A late rain will develop south of Taranaki while the east coast will be mainly fine.

Locals can expect heavy rain in the South Island to move to showers in the west. The east coast will see rain followed by scattered showers.

Looking ahead to Christmas weekend, WeatherWatch said there was a 75 per cent chance of it being mostly dry across the country on Christmas Day on Sunday.

"While the various models we use forecast the high coming in for Christmas Day and dominating for Boxing Day there's still about a quarter of New Zealand on Christmas Day itself that may see some showers," head forecaster Phillip Duncan said.

"As the high comes in there's usually a southerly or southwesterly first and we do have that on Christmas morning by the looks of it.

"This may well bring in a few showers so some coastal areas in both islands."

Beyond Boxing Day, there was a moderate chance of a low coming in, bringing rain for a day or so.

MAIN CENTRES OUTLOOK

Whangarei:
Today: A few showers, mainly afternoon. Southerly change. High 25C.
Tomorrow: Fine spells, southeasterlies dying out. High of 23C.

Auckland:
Today: A few showers, mainly afternoon. Southwest change. High 22C.
Tomorrow: Fine, southerlies dying out. High of 21C.

Tauranga:
Today: A few showers, mainly afternoon. Southwest change. High 22C.
Tomorrow: Fine, light winds. High of 23C.

Hamilton:
Today: Rain for a time with southwest change. High 21C.
Tomorrow: Fine, light winds. High of 22C.

Wellington:
Today: Rain clearing to fine spells morning. Northerlies. High 19C.
Tomorrow: Fine, light winds. High of 18C.

Christchurch:
Today: Mainly fine. Northerlies for a time. High 22C.
Tomorrow: Fine with northeasterlies developing. High of 19C.

Dunedin:
Today: Mainly fine. Northwest turning southwest. High 19C.
Tomorrow: Fine with northeasterlies developing. High of 19C.

- Source: MetService