Weather: Showers forecast for Auckland’s Farmers Santa Parade

Showers are forecast in Auckland today as the Farmers Snata Parade hits the city. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Santa Claus is coming to town. And so is the wet.

The big man in red will be making his way up Auckland’s Queen St, joined by a flotilla of other family favourites, from 1pm today.

Aucklander Rob Tai, also known as “Kai Now” for his super fast eating, waits before the Farmers Santa Parade kicks off. Photo / Hayden Woodward

That’s right about the time a warm front will be sitting over Auckland, but city-dwellers won’t be basking under the same cloudless skies enjoyed by thousands across the city yesterday, including those taking part in the ACVC Beach Volleyball Summer Series at Mission Bay and yoga followers at a public session in Western Springs.

“It’s gonna be showers,” MetService forecaster Sonja Farmer said of the expected weather for the 87-year-old Farmers Santa Parade.

“It won’t be cold though, with [a high of] 21C.”

Competitors enjoy perfect conditions in the ACVC Beach Volleyball Summer Series at Mission Bay in Auckland yesterday. Photo / Hayden Woodward

The front could also cause headaches for cricket fans heading to the Bay Oval for the Black Caps Twenty20 international against the West Indies from 2pm – rain is expected in Tauranga this morning before clearing during the afternoon.

The north’s wet weather is coming from the top of the South Island, where a heavy rain watch is in place for Buller and Westland, north of Greymouth, in the hours before 7am, Farmer said.

The east and southern part of the South Island escape rain and showers, but the front will move over the North Island – the lower half in the morning and the upper half in the afternoon before clearing late afternoon or early evening, she said.

“Basically you get rain and then clearance behind that. That’s the normal thing for these fronts.”

Respite will be brief.

A “nasty” low moving across the country will bring rain for most and strong winds for some tomorrow, Farmer said.

Conditions could again be ropey for the cricket, with wet weather again possible for the second Twenty20 in Tauranga, with the first ball between the Black Caps and West Indies due to be bowled at 7pm.

Southerners look likely to fare better tomorrow, Farmer said.

“It does look like the South Island might get off fairly well. Bit of rain but probably not as much.”

A public yoga session in a Western Springs, Auckland, park yesterday – a bluebird day across the city. Today, it’ll be wet. Photo / Hayden Woodward

The North Island would be mostly wet and, in places, windy, especially in Northland, Auckland and Taranaki.

“It’s not enough to warrant warnings, but it is going to be gusty.”

Again, the wet and windy turn will be brief, with showers gradually clearing everywhere across the North Island on Tuesday.

“The low, it’ll be travelling quickly to the east.”