Bay of Plenty is bracing for a weather shake-up as the Christmas countdown begins.

The final full week before Christmas is here, and while some have already started their summer holidays, the weather isn’t ready to play along just yet.

After a calm weekend, an active cold front is sweeping up the country, set to reach the North Island by Tuesday.

For the Bay of Plenty, that means a brief taste of rain and strong northwesterlies before a cooler, more unsettled pattern takes hold midweek.

The change will be welcome for many after recent hot, dry conditions have pushed fire risk higher across the region.

MetService warns temperatures will dip sharply after the front passes, with midweek highs struggling to reach the 20s - a stark contrast to last week’s summer heat.

In Tauranga tomorrow, the MetService forecast is for a chance of a shower with rain developing in the evening, turning possibly heavy at times.

“Looking ahead, there will certainly be a cool shift this week as that front crosses the country and we reset into a more variable, unsettled and showery weather pattern,” MetService meteorologist Devlin Lynden said.

Once that front has moved on, the weather remains a bit of a mixed bag as a cool south to southwesterly flow moves in behind it.

Come Wednesday and Thursday, many places will struggle to make it into the 20s as those southwesterlies keep the temperatures capped.

With places like Dannevirke, Wellington, Ashburton, Oamaru and Invercargill expected to top out at only 16°C on Wednesday, Lynden said.

“While it might feel like we are headed for a ‘white Christmas’ for some this week, it’s worth remembering that we’re still firmly in summer.

“Christmas Day is 10 days away, and with the country settling into a more changeable pattern, the longer-range forecasts are likely to change in the lead-up to the big day as the weather story becomes clearer.”