It's looking like a soggy start to 2015 for the Bay of Plenty with rain and the possible rumble of thunder forecast in the coming days.

Metservice predicts the last few days of 2014 are set to see the high pressure move away from the country, allowing some wetter and windier weather to push back across New Zealand from the Tasman Sea.

Metservice's forecast for Tauranga.

"Monday will be a good day to keep a close eye on the rain radar," says MetService meteorologist John Law.

'Especially if you are venturing out into the ranges, as we are likely to see some showers springing up through the afternoon and some of these could bring a rumble of thunder."

Looking ahead to Wednesday, bands of rain are forecast to move from the Tasman Sea across the country.

"It looks like we will all get a chance to see some wet weather to end the year.

"The timings of these features are going to be critical in determining which parts of the country stay dry when the clock strikes midnight."

Tauranga is forecast to receive a smattering of showers before the sun returns on Friday with highs ranging between 22 and 25.

The worst of the wet weather is expected to hit the city on Wednesday night.

John says for revellers in the north of the country, it's worth keeping a raincoat handy with a front expected to bring cloud and rain in Auckland for the countdown.

Temperatures in the last few weeks have recovered to more seasonal levels, with many places recording temperatures in the high twenties.

On Christmas Day the temperature peaked at 29C in Blenheim and 27C in Masterton.

Warm temperatures are forecast to stick with us through into the start of the New Year, but the warm air could also prove the trigger for some thundery activity over the top of the South Island and central parts of the North Island today.