Over the last few weeks the atmospheric ‘Scrooges' have sent a succession of fronts over New Zealand, with changeable weather as a consequence.

There have been a number of fine days sandwiched between spells of rain, wind and cloud - and this trend continues this week.

A front crossing the North Island will bring some showers in the north this afternoon, before clearing off for a settled and sunny Tuesday, says the MetService.

The next front moves onto the South Island later on Wednesday bringing some rain, possibly heavy, during Thursday and Friday.

'This may cause headaches for early Christmas travellers, but the good news is that the rain is set to move off to the east for a settled Christmas weekend for most of the country.

'A weakening southwest flow could bring the odd shower in the west but, with a ridge setting in, most places should stay dry. However, there will still be some cloud around on Christmas Day for many of us.”

In the week after Christmas, the MetService says we can expect changeable conditions once more, but it now looks likely that most of the country will strike it lucky for the 25th.

'Much of the uncertainty in the long-range forecast had come from tropical depression 04F near Fiji.

'Conditions are now looking less favourable for its development and there is now only a low chance of it forming into a tropical cyclone.

'It will eventually head south over the next couple of days and we catch a glimpse of it to the northeast of the country on Friday before it heads away into the eastern Pacific.”

Although it is not expected to affect New Zealand's weather, it may bring some surfable swells to east coast beaches.