KEY POINTS:
Christmas Day is expected to be a bit of a dampener after a weekend of sun.
But the blip in the weather won't last long, with the MetService predicting a good Boxing Day.
Rain is expected to arrive over Fiordland tomorrow and spread over the western South Island on Monday before reaching central parts with a cold front on Christmas Eve.
Weather ambassador Bob McDavitt says most of the western and northern parts of the North Island will see some rain on Christmas Day.
Rain or showers on the big day start around Wanganui, moving into Taranaki, Waikato then Auckland and Northland, he says.
Wellington has the front around midnight on Christmas Eve so "it could be quite wet at midnight Mass".
"Everywhere else is fine or clearing. Gisborne and Hawkes Bay probably won't see any cloud at all. Most of the South Island will also turn fine."
Mr McDavitt predicts temperatures will be reasonably warm, in the low 20s for most of the country. And the sun is mostly back on Boxing Day.
CHRISTMAS DAY WEATHER
Bay of Islands: Showers arrive towards the evening, 22C.
Auckland: Some rain develops in the afternoon, 22C.
Taupo: Rain develops around lunchtime and lingers during the afternoon, 22C.
Bay of Plenty: Starts fairly fine, becoming cloudy with some rain towards end of day, 22C to 23C.
New Plymouth: Dawn rains, clear in the afternoon, 20C.
Wellington: Rain from midnight Christmas Eve, clearing towards the afternoon, 20C.
Nelson: Some early rain, clearing towards afternoon, 21C.
Christchurch: Some early rain clears to cloudy showers, 23C.
Source: MetService
