Updated 6am Christmas Eve Saturday — A high is moving into the country for Boxing Day and is bringing an increase in drier and calmer weather this weekend. However with the centre of the high still a couple of days away the south to south west winds may still be a little breezy and cool for some over Saturday and Sunday.

Christmas Eve

No majorly risky weather to speak of today. Cloudiest conditions will likely be along the West Coast of the South Island and about Southland / Otago, there may be a shower about these regions from time to time also otherwise it’s a mainly dry day. Canterbury northwards in the east is looking best weather wise, just some cloud about at times.

Some parts of the western North Island may see a shower or two during the day also otherwise it’s mainly dry with a mix of sun and cloud.

Southwesterlies will likely be fairly breezy about Taranaki through to Northland in the west. West to southwesterly winds a little gusty about coastal Southland and about the Catlins.

The strongest winds will be about coastal fringes of the eastern North Island, gusty southwesterlies easing away during the morning.

Saturday Showers:
There are a few isolated downpours this morning, mostly clearing out of the North Island following Friday’s wetter, windier, weather. Shower risks are a little higher around Wanganui to Marton. Also a few showers around the Tararua Ranges.  Smaller lighter showers are clearing coastal parts of the northern and eastern North Island. 

Christmas Day

It’s a bit cloudy on Christmas Day this year, there may be a brief shower or two about also but for most regions it’s mainly dry. Southwesterly winds for most too, breezy or brisk at times for the west of the North Island and lower South Island.

The sunniest weather is about Nelson and the Bay Of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay northwards in the east starts of mainly sunny then cloud gradually builds from afternoon as winds tend southerly.

Sunday Showers:
A few are possible – but very isolated. Hard to precisely work out where they will form but our Sunday forecasts will be tracking them.

For specific 10 day information for your city, town, rural community or island please see the 1500 forecasts on our homepage!

– Aaron Wilkinson, WeatherWatch.co.nz