Here’s what is making the weather headlines today.

3:33pm #Thunderstorms across #NewZealand #LaNinaSummer pic.twitter.com/5DtI5ZTFxt

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) December 20, 2022

STORMS – NORTH ISLAND

Thunderstorms are the main feature today so they must be mentioned again, the North Island is mostly in the firing line, more details on where storms may form today from Metservice at this link here.

Buller and Tasman have a chance of afternoon thunderstorms also but the risks are a bit lower than further north.

COOL TEMPERATURES – EASTERN SOUTH ISLAND

An onshore southeasterly airflow brings mostly cloudy skies with showers or rain to eastern parts of the South Island today, this brings cool temperatures also staying in the mid to late teens. Nelson and then down along the West Coast will be warmer getting into the early twenties.

The upper North Island beats them all though with highs today reaching into the mid twenties.

CHRISTMAS DAY – UPDATE

Most of New Zealand is looking mainly dry still but a northerly airflow does look to develop for the South Island, this brings plenty of cloud in the west, perhaps a few showers or some rain about Fiordland. Eastern regions are dry with sun and some high cloud.

The North Island has a mix of sun and cloud for some in the west, sunny elsewhere.

Temperatures warm for most getting into the early to mid twenties, the West Coast looks to be a bit cooler though thanks to the aforementioned cloud cover. Temperatures may at a push reach into the late twenties for some inland parts of the North Island.