A wet Christmas may just be in store for many across the country with Cyclone Yasa and a low-pressure system all playing their part in forming less than ideal conditions.
According to WeatherWatch Cyclone Yasa will have "teared up" the atmosphere by Christmas Eve leaving behind a trail of moisture-rich tropical airflow, which could cause very humid and wet weather.
And while modelling is still too uncertain to give a definite Christmas day forecast their GFS model is predicting "some" wet weather.
According to Weatherwatch Meteorologist Phillip Duncan, a couple of high-pressure systems at the bottom of the country will be encouraging dry weather on Christmas but a gap between the highs and an ex-cyclone sitting to the north means "it's still up in the air what Christmas day will be like in northern New Zealand."
Metservice says a new low-pressure system forming in the Tasman sea will be set to roll across the South Island from mid next week, threatening to bring bouts of rain to lower and central parts of the country on Christmas.
The warm tropical airflow remaining in the country only adds to the complexity and possibility of rain.
Although hope remains of a dry, warm welcome for Santa, Metservice adding there's a "good chance that settled weather will turn up for many on the 25th."
This weekend much of the country will see weather similar to that seen during the week.
Cyclone Yasa is still sat upon the top of the country pushing high pressure alongside some warm subtropical westerlies, leading to some warm temperatures.
Southland and Otago will sit in the mid-teens overnight on Saturday while the east coast will be enjoying daytime highs heading into the low to mid 30's.
Auckland will see a high of 25C on Saturday, Taupo 23C, Wellington 18C, Christchurch 29C, and Queenstown 24C.
Sunday will see winds easing over much of the country and continued high temperatures.
Hamilton will see a high of 25C, Napier 25C, Wellington 20C, and Dunedin 17C.
