Christmas dinner could be beset by a rumble and blast of thunder for multiple areas later this evening.
MetService says warm and humid conditions are expected in several places around the country. Combined with cooling temperatures in the upper atmosphere, some convection is likely to form this afternoon and evening.
"There is a low risk of thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening about central and eastern areas of the North Island, inland Tasman and Marlborough and parts of Canterbury and Otago," it warns.
"Within these areas, there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms for Rotorua, inland Bay of Plenty, much of Gisborne and northern Hawke's Bay."
If these thunderstorms occur, they are likely to be accompanied by localised heavy rain with intensities of 15 to 25mm per hour and hail.
"Inland Canterbury also has a moderate risk of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, and these could bring localised heavy rain with intensities of 10 to 25mm per hour and small hail," MetService adds.
On Boxing Day and Monday, MetService says a front is forecast to move northeast across the South Island, preceded by strong northwesterlies and followed by southwesterlies.
"There is moderate confidence of warning amounts of rain in Fiordland on Sunday, and about the ranges of Westland late Sunday and Monday," it says.
"A low may develop east of Canterbury on Tuesday, possibly delivering a period of heavy south to southeasterly rain to the region, with low confidence of rain amounts reaching warning criteria."
The front should then weaken as it moves over the North Island on Tuesday and early Wednesday.
