Here’s what is making the weather headlines this weekend.

Good morning and #MerryChristmas to those celebrating across #NewZealand today!

A little cloudy for some today with a few showers about – but warm nationwide. This afternoon is dry for many, but some big downpours likely inland to the east.⛈️

Have a great day! 🌞🎄😋🎁 pic.twitter.com/FXGwlLZrsb

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) December 24, 2022

DRY WEATHER AND HIGH PRESSURE ON THE WAY

It seems the weather is looking to calm down right in time for the holidays, plenty of high pressure covers New Zealand right through to New Years day bringing mostly sunny and mainly dry conditions. We will have a few features move through now and then but by and large it’s looking to be quite settled for the next week or two.

The precipitation percentage of normal map below shows quite a bit of red for New Zealand meaning dry weather, white is average rainfall and blue is wetter than normal conditions expected. The map below runs through to the 31st December.

Most of eastern New Zealand’s soil moisture levels are sitting about right compared to the historical average but evapotranspiration rates will be high coming up, hopefully some wet weather starts to head in by mid January. The western side of the country especially the western North Island has had plenty of wet weather and soil moisture levels are high so some dry weather is not unwelcome at the moment.

WEATHER FOR CHRISTMAS DAY

New Zealand is mainly settled on Christmas Day thanks to high pressure, cool air aloft leads to a few afternoon isolated showers though. Also a front moves into the southwestern corner of the South Island.

North Island

Mostly sunny but expect some high cloud streaming out of a front to the north, a few isolated showers develop about the eastern ranges in the afternoon then clear in the evening, one or two showers may be heavy with thunderstorms. Light winds then afternoon sea breezes for most.

South Island

Mostly sunny weather, some morning cloud in the east breaks away, there could even be an early morning clearing shower for coastal Canterbury. Afternoon clouds about inland hills and ranges may bring isolated showers then clearing later in the evening, one or two showers may be heavy with thunderstorms. Fiordland has cloudy skies with showers or perhaps some rain, this eases in the evening. Light winds then afternoon sea breezes for most.

• 

•