A sunny outlook for Christmas day

A dry Christmas Day is likely, although though some showers may linger around Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty. Photo / iStock

Most of us would have woken up to a wet Christmas Day, but the MetService is expecting most places to experience some dry spells today before it clears tomorrow.

MetService duty meteorologist Karl Loots says the best places to be this morning are Wellington and Christchurch where the sun is shining.

However, he says the whole of the South Island can expect sun this afternoon.

For those in the North Island, the leftovers of a front are currently lingering over Auckland and Waikato where it is drizzly but it's expected to clear as the day heats up with scattered showers expected this afternoon.

"In Auckland there are one or two showers happening around this morning but you will see some longer fine spells and a chance of a shower this afternoon. We are expecting scattered showers today through the central parts and more northern parts of the North Island, so that will include Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Rotorua, Waikato areas, central high country. The [showers] will start breaking and easing off this morning then we will just see scattered showers this afternoon."

Taranaki, Wanganui and Manawatu are experiencing a bit of morning cloud but that will clear and become fine.

There's a bit of light drizzle around Hawkes Bay and Gisborne at the moment but that will clear, making way for long sunny spells.

As for Boxing Day, Mr Loots said a big ridge of high pressure will settle across the country bringing fine weather with light winds to most of the country.

Aucklanders were plagued with wet weather yesterday, as they rushed to the shops for last-minute gifts on Christmas Eve.

CHRISTMAS DAY

Auckland - 22C high, morning cloud breaks to mostly sunny weather, south-west winds die out later in the day

Hamilton - 24C high, morning cloud breaks to afternoon sun, light south-west winds.

Wellington - 21C high, sunny with southerly winds from afternoon

Christchurch - 21C high, some morning cloud then mostly sunny, easterly winds

Dunedin - 20C high, cloud gradually breaks away afternoon and evening, south-west winds die out around midnight.