The MetService forecast for December 25, published today, gives the first strong hint that Santa deliveries and Christmas picnics may need umbrella protection in the upper North Island and the lower and western South Island.
In between those places, however, it’s looking like it will be a cracker of a Christmas.
A lot can change in 10 days but at present the generally unsettled weather of late spring/early summer looks set to continue on many days in the countdown to Christmas, and to linger through the start of the holiday season.
Some upper North Island areas are forecast to have a fine start on Christmas Day with rain later, while Auckland can expect showers and southwesterlies.
But Napier, Wellington, Nelson and Christchurch are lined up for sunshine.
The good news is that most areas should be warm, with temperatures around the 20C mark prevailing.
Christmas Day forecast
Auckland
Showers with southwesterlies, 22C
Hamilton
Fine to start with then rain. Not much wind, 22C
Wellington
Fine with northwesterlies, 21C
Christchurch
Fine with northerlies, 23C
Dunedin
A few early clouds then rain. Northwesterlies, 21C
Queenstown
Showers with northwesterlies, 22C
Invercargill
Rain with westerlies, 20C