Unsettled week before winds ease for Christmas

Kiwis could see strong winds and showers up until Christmas eve. Photo / Doug Sherring

This year's forecast for Christmas Day is more difficult than usual because a series of low pressure systems and fronts will push past New Zealand over the next week as La Nina weather patterns evolve, says WeatherWatch analyst Philip Duncan.

"It looks as though next week will be fairly messy with strong winds and showers right up until Christmas Eve," he said. The North Island will have brisk southwest winds in most areas, but around Wellington winds will be strong, probably from the west.

Cloudy periods along the west coast will bring a 10 per cent chance of a shower. Most western areas, including Auckland, will be cooler with lower humidity, and temperatures from Wellington to Auckland will mostly be around 20C.

Sunniest places will be Bay of Islands, eastern Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay, with temperatures reaching up to 27C inland.

In the South Island, there will be sunny and cloudy spells along the West Coast with a 20 per cent chance of lingering showers.

The east coast can expect sunnier weather.

There will be a 20 per cent chance of showers for Southland.

- NZPA