Aucklanders could be spared from the rain this Christmas despite earlier forecasts

MetService has issued 24-hour heavy rain watches for the ranges of the Buller and Grey District, beginning early this morning.

Wellington's in for warm windy weather to celebrate today, while Christchurch is in for a hot cloudy day.

Meteorologist Dan Corrigan says instead of steady rain all day as forecast, Auckland could instead only see a light afternoon shower.

He says there's a band of rain hanging around the north tip of the country and how far south it'll go is up in the air.