Christmas Day weather: 'Mixed bag' expected

APNZ

16 Dec, 2013 05:37 AM2 mins to read

Humidity and afternoon heating has led to a few days of significant downpours and major thunderstorms around the North Island but a front in the Tasman looks set to drop humidity levels on Tuesday. For Wellington and southern areas you’re entering a late spring pattern. Wellington has a northerly chance to a southerly every second day this week and gales are possible in exposed areas by Friday. The days before Christmas – and Christmas Day itself – still have a question mark but we know there will be a very large high pressure system around NZ – we just need another day or two to lock in where exactly it will be centered.

Don't bank on firing up the barbie on Christmas Day.

The weather will be a "mixed bag'' with rain possible around the country, according to MetService.

Spokesman Daniel Corbett said fine weather would continue this weeks although troughs would bring rainfall as they moved up the country.

"These troughs should bring some wet spells in places this week, but between these the drier days will be decent for outdoor plans.''

The first trough would move up the country today and tomorrow, bringing showers and rain followed by slightly cooler air.

The afternoon heat would also generate thunderstorms, which could be severe at inland North Island locations, Mr Corbett said.

A second trough would spread another band of rain or showers up the country on Wednesday and a third may appear over the weekend.

"The exact details of the weather for early next week and the run-up to Christmas still need to iron themselves out, but at this point it seems the weather might continue to be a mixed bag,'' Mr Corbett said.

"It's not going to be an ugly sabre-toothed tiger, but there might be some spots of rain around the country.''

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Current MetService forecast for Christmas Day:

* Auckland: Showers, westerlies. High of 21, overnight low of 16.