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The clouds are rolling in over most of the country today, bringing a risk of showers over the weekend which could let loose on Christmas Day.
Metservice said it is keeping a close eye on this moisture spreading across the country.
Metservice meteorologist John Law said there are two systems moving over New Zealand.
"The main story for Friday will be one of cloud."
"To the south, there is a band of cloud associated with a front which has been bringing a fair bit of heavy rain in towards parts of Fiordland over the last few days," he said.
"And to the north, an area of low pressure spilling high cloud across those northern parts of the country."
The afternoon may bring showers to parts of Central Otago and up to the Mackenzie Country, with a small risk of thunder.
There will be spots of drizzle for Wellington and the Wairarapa for the morning but the clouds should break up as the day continues.
The top of the North Island may also see some light scattered rain, alongside the higher areas of the central plateau and Hawke's Bay,
Despite the clouds, Law said there will be highs widely above 20 degrees Celsius, with 25C for Auckland and across to Whakatane.
Christmas Day
Looking ahead to Christmas Day, currently there will be showery activity around the west facing coasts of the North Island.
It will generally be drier and warmer on the east coast.
"It's a decent story in fact for most of the South Island... including Nelson and Canterbury."
"We will find Christmas Day is a warm one across the country, particularly on that eastern side, with Hawke's Bay up to around 30-32C."
"But I think the downside will be a fair number of showers pushing across from the West. So the western and northern sides are still likely to see those."
He said, those with rain in their Christmas Day forecast "shouldn't give up all hope."
There is "wriggle room" around the distribution and timing of wet weather and the temperature continues to remain on the warmer side of average.
"Those hoping to have a day at the beach on the 25th will need to keep a close eye on the forecast over the weekend and it's recommended to have a wet weather plan in case those showers do happen to turn up at your place," Metservice meteorologist Lewis Ferris said.
Law said Christmas Eve will be a hot night, so Santa should pick shorts and a T'shirt over a coat and hat for his journey to Aotearoa.
Hottest year on average
New Zealand is set to have one of its top three hottest years on record, said NIWA.
NIWA meteorologist Tristan Meyers said 2022 was the country's warmest year on record, surpassing the record set the year before in 2021.
"Although the first half of December had mostly average temperatures, a sultry 33C temperature reading in North Canterbury yesterday marked a hot and humid finish to the year, helping to keep 2023 near the top of the rankings.
Meyers said rankings would be confirmed in NIWA's annual climate summary released in January next month.
Looking ahead, the forecast for the week between Christmas and New Year looks to remain warm with a mix of rainy and more settled days.
