Weather: Heavy rain clears for much of New Zealand leaving showers, cooler temperatures

The wettest weather will move off the country, but New Zealand won’t see the sunny weather we experienced at the start of the month, MetService says.

Forecaster Lewis Ferris told the Herald that today would remain cooler, but more settled.

“We hold on to that cold air and there will be some showers,” he said.

🌧️💨🎄An active cold front is shaking things up across Aotearoa early this week. Heavy rain and strong northwest winds are affecting the South Island today and spreading to the North Island on Tuesday. Behind it comes a sharp cool change, with showery, unsettled southwesterlies… pic.twitter.com/JCHEecaiRN

— MetService NZ (@MetService) December 15, 2025

“There is a risk of some thunderstorms around the Gisborne region in the afternoon, but in general, it looks to be a nicer day.

“Mainly just for those eastern parts of the North Island, but that is associated with another band of rain making its way up to the country,” Ferris said.

“There does still look to be some showers around, mainly for the western parts of the North Island.

“It does look like that band of rain arrives overnight Friday into Saturday.”

The loop below shows forecast dew point through the remainder of 2025. Dew point indicates how humid and uncomfortable the air feels.

While there will be a handful of humid days in the North Island over the next two weeks, many days will feel quite comfortable. pic.twitter.com/1tbcUIc3nv

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) December 16, 2025

Ferris said the chilly temperatures would continue for much of today.

“I’m not sure it’s really going to be that noticeable, but we’re seeing less of these cooler overnight temperatures,” he said.

“People around the centre of the North Island will notice a cooler morning, but we’re not talking about heavy frosts.”

According to MetService, Auckland is forecast to reach a high of 21C and fall to a low of 16C, while Hamilton will also reach a high of 21C and fall even lower, to 12C.

Across the eastern side of the North Island, Tauranga is set to reach a high of 23C and fall to a low of 14C, while Gisborne will reach a high of 22C and fall to a low of 11C.

Napier will reach a high of 23C and a low of 13C, while Taupō will have a high of 19C and a low of 11C.

Ferris predicted wet weather could be on the cards across the south and west of the North Island for Christmas week.

“It does mean Northland and the eastern parts of the North and South Islands are the best bets to see sunny and warm days,” he said.

“But don’t lock in your outdoor plans just yet.”

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