Fine weather for Christmas Day

Parts of the North Island, including at this surf carnival at Omaha, near Warkworth, enjoyed warm temperatures yesterday. Photo / Greg Bowker

The queues at retail stores are likely to be atrocious but at least the weather will be warm and settled in the leadup to Christmas Day and beyond.

MetService forecaster Ian Gall said a high weather system parked over northern parts of the North Island would linger through the week meaning mainly settled and warm conditions for those in the Far North, Auckland, Waikato, the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay.

"Unfortunately for us in Wellington, when people in the north get that kind of weather that usually means Wellington weather - which is windy," said Mr Gall.

He said Christmas Day in Auckland would be great for children to play with their new toys or for parents to run off their lunch with a bit of backyard cricket, with temperatures in the low 20s and a slight seabreeze predicted.

The rest of the country should also see similar temperatures with fine weather predicted.

Yesterday, parts of the North Island basked in tropical temperatures while others saw the mercury plunge and people pulling out the woollen jerseys and umbrellas. But Weatherwatch head analyst Philip Duncan said the worst of the spring-like weather conditions should have passed.

He said although Gisborne hit a sweltering 28 degrees and Auckland 21, Waiouru and other parts of the Central Plateau registered a chilly 11 degrees.

Hastings had 26 but Masterton 16, while in the South Island Blenheim had 24 but Christchurch just 15.

Mr Duncan said the spread of temperatures was "quite bizarre" and blamed a combination of an "out of character" southerly moving up the country while localised northwesterly winds and sheltered areas meant some were enjoying the summer heat.

"This is very typical of El Nino, with these strong winds continuing," he said.

"The weather appears to be favouring the northern half of the North Island."

* Expected Christmas Day temperatures:

Auckland 23

Hamilton 23

Tauranga 24

Wellington 20

Christchurch 24

Dunedin 20

Source: MetService