Christmas Day: Warm, dry, sunny

Warm, dry and sunny weather is predicted for most parts of New Zealand on Christmas Day.

Weather forecasters are predicting a warm, dry and sunny Christmas for New Zealand after a rain threat was diverted to Australia.

Forecaster WeatherWatch released its Christmas Day forecast today and says things are looking good for next Sunday.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan said that earlier concerns it would be a wet Kiwi Christmas have eased, but could spell bad news for eastern Australia.

Mr Duncan said: "Our prediction is that most, if not all, main centres will be dry, fairly sunny and have average temperatures.

"The models remain consistent with their predictions for Christmas Day - showing a large high centred just to the east of the South Island on December 25.

"As for rain, well there is a chance some afternoon heating could create a few inland heavy showers about Central Plateau and the Southern Alps - but no risk for any main centres at this stage.

"There is less concern today about another La Nina rain maker coming out of the Coral Sea/sub-tropics. The data is now suggesting this could be an eastern Australian problem and not one for NZ."

La Nina easterlies are likely to continue next week for Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Northland - dragging in a few clouds and a less than 20 per cent chance of a shower on December 25. Winds should be light across the country.

Mr Duncan added: "We're now getting to the point where our confidence in the data is starting to solidify.''