Weather: Rain and wind around in most regions for next few days

Cross your fingers - MetService will issue its first proper Christmas Day weather forecast on Friday morning.

Currently the national forecaster has a computer-generated prediction, though as it's still seven days out things could change.

That forecast suggests Auckland and Christchurch will see a few showers and a high of 21C, while Wellington could be cloudy and hit 18C.

But it's all up in the air until around 11am tomorrow when meteorologists bring together the models and other data to give a more up-to-date forecast.

Dismal weather is forecast before then for most places around the country, MetService meteorologist Tamara Vikas most places would have dismal weather for the next few days.

Showery for upper N Island, clearing N AKL by lunch, S AKL afternoon, elsewhere N of TPO this early evening. Low clear in radar is followed by cooler SW winds. https://t.co/p9rSaHwgh6 for details. ^RK pic.twitter.com/m7Kf3B3uwY

— MetService (@MetService) December 17, 2019

"Most of the North Island will see some showers or rain today."

On top of the rain, Vikas said there would be gusty winds.

"It's quite windy in the north, as well as the central and lower North Island.

"In Northland and Auckland there's a westerly wind, and in Wellington it's southerly at the moment.

"The low crosses over and starts to pull away to the east. We're expecting southwesterly winds to intensify over the east coast of the South Island, Christchurch and the Kaikoura Coast."

Pretty wet across central NZ this morning (15.8mm CH, 16.6mm NSN, 13.6mm WGN since midnight) but expected to clear out by lunchtime for most. However, showers bubble up inland S Island and drift NE later this afternoon. track it live: https://t.co/prKU7O2R01 ^RK pic.twitter.com/vUt6CNRnDm

— MetService (@MetService) December 17, 2019

For the rest of the week, the North Island is fine with some cloudy periods in the west, then more rain on Friday, easing from the afternoon.

Wellington will be fine tomorrow with northerlies and northwesterlies, however it should prepare for rain on Friday and gale northerlies in the afternoon.

In the South Island, heavy rain is expected tomorrow afternoon until Friday morning, gradually becoming isolated showers in the afternoon.

In the extended forecast for Christmas Day,

WeatherWatch predicts a colder Christmas than normal, with occasional showers along the eastern side of New Zealand, and potential afternoon downpours through some inland parts of the North Island.

Although it's too soon to show exact rain data, a WeatherWatch spokesperson said two of the higher risk areas for showers are Canterbury and Wairarapa, which are caught up in the cooler east to southeast wind flow.

Dunedin, Invercargill, Oamaru, Ashburton, Timaru and Christchurch are forecast to have highs between 12C and 15C on Christmas Day.

In the North Island, Wellington, Masterton, Napier and Gisborne will also be colder than usual, with temperature highs in the mid to late teens.

Today's weather

Whangārei Occasional showers, clearing late morning and becoming fine. Strong southwesterlies, easing from afternoon. High of 22C, Low 13C.
Auckland Occasional showers, some possibly heavy, clearing early afternoon and becoming fine. Strong southwesterlies, gale in exposed places, easing in the evening. High 20C, Low 14C.
Hamilton Rain, chance heavy, easing to a few showers in the morning then clearing by evening. Westerlies easing in the evening. High 20C, Low 11C.
Tauranga A few showers, clearing to fine in the afternoon. Westerlies, strong at times. High of 22C, Low 12C.
New Plymouth Rain, possibly heavy, easing to a few showers late morning then clearing evening. Southwesterlies becoming strong. High 19C, Low 12C.
Napier Cloudy periods. Rain developing late morning as northwesterlies change southerly. Rain clears in the afternoon. High 21C, Low 11C.
Whanganui Rain, possibly heavy, easing to a few showers late morning then clearing afternoon. Southerlies, changing westerly evening. High 18C, Low 12C.
Wellington Rain clearing by afternoon, though chance of evening shower. Strong southerlies easing, then turning northerly evening. High 16C, Low 10C.
Nelson Morning rain clearing to fine. Southwesterlies, gusty for a time in the evening. High 20C, Low 10C.
Christchurch Morning rain clearing to fine. Strong southwesterlies, gusty in exposed places, changing northerly at night. High of 17C, Low 7C.
Dunedin Cloudy periods and a few showers developing morning, mainly coastal from afternoon. Strong southwesterlies easing at night. High 15C, Low 9C.