The first tentative predictions for Christmas Day weather are out, and it looks like a mixed bag for the South and other parts of the country.
MetService today released its 10-day forecast, with areas including Auckland and Christchurch looking warm and sunny.
But Queenstown, Invercargill and Nelson were expected to have a rougher time, with rain forecast.
At this stage, Dunedin would be partly cloudy with northeasterlies and a high of 24degC. Rain was forecast for Queenstown (23degC) and Invercargill (24degC).
However, MetService forecaster Ciaran Doolin warned there was still plent of time for the forecast to change.
“There’s an important caveat with that, that beyond day six, the forecasts are computer-generated, so basically automated.
“These ones give us a bit of an idea, but as we get closer a manual forecast written by a forecaster will be more accurate.”
The 10-day forecast “certainly shouldn’t be taken as gospel at this stage”.
Under the current forecast, Christchurch was expected to be the hottest, with a scorching 29degC.
On the other side of the South Island, Greymouth is lumped with the coldest Christmas, with rain and a high of just 21degC predicted.
Not everyone will be unhappy about the rain, with farmers in need of some wetter weather.
Wellington is currently facing a water shortage, but is among those expecting a dry Christmas Day and a high of 23degC.
It would be partly cloudy in Auckland with an expected high of 26degC.
