Rudolph might get a sunburned nose

Let’s hope Santa does the slip, slop slap when he visits New Zealand this year – most of the country is set for a serving of sunshine with a side helping of cloud on Christmas Day.

MetService’s 10-day forecast is for a warm day, with temperatures in the mid to high 20s.

Some farmers will be happy with a bit of rain forecast. Christchurch is expected to be the hottest of the cities, with a maximum of 29 degrees Celsius.

MetService meteorologist Lisa Murray said: ‘‘Christmas Day temperatures are likely to be warm, with a boost from the very warm seas surrounding the country.

‘‘There’s also a good signal that high pressure is set to sit near the

north of the North Island. While this could bring a dry day for many cities and towns in the North Island and upper South Island, inland areas may see some afternoon heat showers.’’

The 10-day forecast: Whangarei: Maximum 26 degrees Celsius, partly cloudy. Not much wind. Auckland: Max 26C, partly cloudy with light winds. Tauranga: Max 25C, cloudy. Not much wind. Hamilton: Max 26C, cloudy. Little wind. New Plymouth:

Max 23C, rain. Northerlies. Napier: Max 27C, cloudy. Light winds. Palmerston North:

Max 26C, rain. Northwesterlies. Wellington:

Max 23C, partly cloudy. Northwesterlies. Nelson: Max 25C, rain. Northwesterlies.

Greymouth: Max 21C, rain with not much wind. Christchurch: Max 29C, partly cloudy with northerlies. Dunedin: Max 24C, partly cloudy with northeasterlies. Queenstown:

Max 23C, showers with light winds.

Invercargill: Max 24C, rain with northwesterlies.