Holidaymakers warned to brace for the wettest week in over two months

Weather over the following week is set to be patchy. Photo / File

Don't count your chickens before they hatch - keep this in mind if you're preparing on heading away on holiday next week, especially on the West Coast.

Despite the hot and sunny weather we've received over the last month or so, New Zealanders could expect next week to be the wettest in two months.

Philip Duncan of WeatherWatch said holidaymakers should be prepared for some gloomy weather.

"Places like Nelson could be in for some pretty heavy rain for a time and we might see some heavy rain heading into the North Island on Tuesday and Wednesday as well.

"On Christmas Day we're going to see this low develop around the central West Coast of the South Island, it will move slightly upward throughout the day.

"On Boxing Day the low starts to develop around central New Zealand and that's when it gets a little bit more defined," he said.

Waimarama paddocks looking very brown in January 2017. Photo / Duncan Brown

Duncan said farmers should be able to breathe a sigh of relief following the forecast.

"The low is hanging around for all of next week and its going to bring showers to some regions, especially the East Coast of the country which is good news for farmers.

"This low is not going to be producing days of rain for most places but its going to be producing changeable weather for most parts of the country," he added.

Those spending the festive season in the northern areas of the country would receive more summery weather throughout next week - but should expect patchy weather.

"For places like Auckland and the Coromandel it's not looking like days and days of rain.

"It looks as though Auckland will get it on Tuesday afternoon and then it will dry up and on Wednesday there will be more showers.

The low-pressure system is set to move on around New Years with a large high in the Tasman Sea building, whether or not that happens remains to be seen.

"A large high in the Tasman Sea could be moving in for the New Years period but we won't know for the next couple of days.

"It's going to be pretty unpredictable for the whole week," Duncan said.