Otago residents can expect to unwrap a rather mixed bag of weather this festive season.
MetService has forecast warm but rainy weather on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve for the main centres in Otago, and drier (if not cloudy) weather during the intervening days.
But MetService meteorologist Tom Adams said it would not be as wet as it looked on paper.
A series of fronts would move up the country next week, bringing similar weather to what we have had during the past week.
"You get warm northwesterlies, which tend to be quite dry in Otago, followed by southerlies, which bring moisture.
"But the fronts are quite fast moving and the rain they bring never adds up to much, unless you get caught underneath a storm cell."
He said the showers on Christmas Day were expected to arrive in the evening and would turn to rain overnight.
However, the rain was likely to clear for most of the region by noon on Boxing Day.
"The worst of the rain should be overnight, so it shouldn’t put too much of a dampener on people’s outdoor activities.
"It pays not to dwell too much on the rain because for the vast majority of the time, it’s not going to be raining. There will just be a couple of periods when it will.
"By checking the weather forecast each day, people can plan around it."
Rather than rain, Mr Adams said it was wind that holidaymakers needed to be wary of around the region.
"Some of these southerlies, particularly around Boxing Day, will be strong — not dangerous, but enough to put sand in your barbecue.
"Look out for them."
The days in between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve were forecast to be mostly dry across the region, he said.
"There will be quite a bit of cloud around, but that doesn’t mean people won’t get sunburnt.
"So make sure you put that sunblock on if you’re heading out."
As for the weather on New Year’s Eve, it was difficult to forecast accurately because it was still "a long way out".
"It’s fair to say there will be a front coming through at some point around New Year’s Eve, but whether it’s actually late on the 31st or early on New Year’s Day, it’s too early to tell."
