New Years weather: How does it look in your region?

Heavy rain is likely to hit parts of the country on the morning of New Year's Eve but likely to ease by New Year's Day.

According to NIWA Weather and MetService, a "thundery" southerly change is bringing the chance of heavy downpours with hail to parts of the East Coast today and tomorrow.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Tararua, and Wairarapa, with locals being warned of downpours of up to 50mm per hour and possible "large hail".

Hawke's Bay, south of the Wairoa District, the Tararua District, and Wairarapa, are also under heavy rain watches.

MetService said showers would develop this afternoon, with "possibly heavy with thunderstorms, becoming isolated for a time tonight and tomorrow morning".

NIWA said the worst of the conditions should "ease" by New Year's Day.

The Gisborne region was hosting around 17,000 campers for the Rhythm and Vines festival, which will wrap up on New Year's Day.

MetService said it could be a thundery New Year's Eve morning for Auckland and Northland, clearing in the afternoon.

Isolated showers in Waikato to Taumarunui, including Coromandel and Western Bay of Plenty, will clear to being fine tomorrow evening.

Showers and possible thunderstorms from Taranaki to Wellington, Wairarapa, Marlborough, and Canterbury will likely turn to rain tomorrow morning and ease into isolated showers in the afternoon.

In its extended forecast for the North Island, MetService said New Year's Day would have scattered showers for most of the day, especially inland during the afternoon and evening.

In the South Island, showers and possible thunderstorms in Nelson and Buller will ease tonight and become fine tomorrow afternoon.

Westland and Fiordland will be mainly fine, while Southland and Otago are expected to have isolated showers concentrating on the coast tomorrow evening.

MetService predicted a mainly fine day for the South Island on Wednesday, with scattered showers in the east, spreading elsewhere in the afternoon and evening.

MetService meteorologist Ngaire Wotherspoon said the best places to welcome the New Year would be in the far south and west of the country.

"The rain in the east eases significantly tomorrow as the low-pressure system begins to pull away, but a few showers will still be lingering into the New Year.

"Although it will be a windy day in Auckland for Tuesday, the winds should be easing and the sky clearing as we head towards midnight.

"On the South Island, Queenstown will welcome in 2025 under clear skies."