KEY POINTS:
New Year's Eve party-goers in the North Island will be hoping MetService has got its prediction of cold southerlies and rain for Sunday night wrong.
MetService forecaster Oliver Druce says revellers will be much luckier in much of the South Island, which should have warm, balmy conditions.
The top half of the North Island, including Auckland, was likely to strike "just the odd shower but it will be quite unpleasant right down to Napier, Wellington, Christchurch and the Wairarapa".
The west coast of the North Island "isn't flash", with the chance of showers. The winners on the night would be in Nelson, the West Coast, Milford Sound and Hokitika.
Mr Druce said New Year's Day was likely to clear for the South Island but the chilly weather was predicted to hang around the east and south of the North Island.
Meanwhile, rain yesterday contributed to long delays for the large volume of holiday traffic on State Highway 1 south of Mercer and eastbound on State Highway 2.
Inspector Matt Sillars of police northern communications said a number of accidents had occurred and he urged drivers to travel with extreme care.
- NZPA
