With only one more sleep until Christmas Day, a ridge of high pressure remains in charge of our skies.

This will please folk wanting to spend time outdoors, with sunny and dry weather expected across much of the country.

The MetService is forecasting occasional showers, with a chance of heavy showers before dawn, for Christmas Day. Photo: MetService.

'Over the North Island, isolated showers in the north and east become confined to inland places by afternoon,” says MetService Meteorologist Peter Little.

'For the South Island, there will be a few early showers in the far south, otherwise it's a fine day.

'Temperatures across the country are expected to be in the low to mid-twenties for Christmas Day.” The ridge holds firm for Boxing Day and Sunday, with stunning weather likely across the country.

The only fly in the ointment will be isolated afternoon and evening showers for northern New Zealand.

'It will be warm over the weekend too, with daytime temperatures pushing into the mid-to-high 20s in many places,” says Peter. On Monday, the ridge retreats to the North Island with the mostly fine and warm weather continuing there.

Meanwhile, a weakening front moves up the South Island, bringing rain to Fiordland and showers to a few other places.