KEY POINTS:
Showers will welcome in 2009.
MetService forecaster Allister Gorman says that although he doesn't want to rain on anyone's parade for New Year's Eve, it is looking wet across the North Island.
Fronts moving east from the Tasman Sea are bringing the bad weather, he says.
"Unfortunately, it will probably start the day quite nice but deteriorate towards midnight, with showers moving into many of the western areas.
"It's going to mean that virtually everywhere is going to have showers by the end of the night.
"It'll be good for a pre-evening celebration barbecue - but if you're heading out at night to watch fireworks or whatever else is going on, you'll find you'll need to pack the umbrella.
"It won't be cold."
Northland and New Plymouth are likely to get the showers first before the weather system moves across the country, with only Gisborne and Wairarapa escaping the weather.
New Year's Day, though, is shaping up to be fine and sunny, says Mr Gorman.
"If it was any other day of the year, people would probably be quite happy if it rained during the night and was fine during the day."
