Fine forecast for capital New Year

KENT BLECHYNDEN/ The Dominion Post

HAPPINESS: Charlie the hungarian viszla, owned by Charlotte and Shane Philips, makes the most of fine weather at Lyall Bay.

Relevant offers

New Zealand

176,245 fly into Wellington airport An island recovered First Church treasure 36 hours in Wanaka Tourists flock in, but Kiwis flee to Australia Migration figures to turnaround - report Small panel falls off during Jetstar flight Cycling Marlborough's vineyards National mosaic of cycleways Top spots for 2012

Holidaymakers around Wellington who have been drenched by rain should enjoy a break in the weather as the new year is ushered in.

Wellington enjoyed a mostly sunny day yesterday, with a high of 22 degrees, but a southerly change brought cold showers last night, plunging the temperature to about 7 degrees with the windchill.

MetService forecaster Allister Gorman said hail experienced in Canterbury was unlikely to be repeated in Wellington.

The rain should clear early this morning "maybe even before you get up", he said.

On Tuesday heavy rain fell in the Tararua Range, north of Wellington, drenching campers around Otaki.

Settled weather is expected over much of the North Island today and on New Year's Day.

However, Wellington, which should get to 20 degrees tomorrow, and south of Napier are expected to be buffeted by strong northwesterly winds, possibly gusting up to 120kmh.

The MetService lifted its severe weather warning between Havelock North and Eketahuna as westerly gales in the region eased yesterday afternoon.

A 150km wind gust was recorded yesterday morning at Cape Turnagain on the eastern Hawke's Bay coast. A police communications spokesman said there were no reports of damage.

The North Manakau Rd bridge south of Levin, which was shut on Tuesday amid fears that a swollen Waikawa Stream would wash it away, is now open, but only one vehicle may cross at a time.

Horowhenua District Council acting chief executive Tony Thomas said there had been no damage to the bridge.

- © Fairfax NZ News