Better weather is forecast for most of New Zealand on Christmas Day, with just a few showers expected in some areas.
MetService says a weak front will move coastal showers up the south and east coasts of the South Island but Thursday should become increasingly fine.
Forecaster Allister Gorman says that while it won't be a perfect day there'll be more than enough patches of sun about.
50 to 60mm of rain fell in the Auckland and Northland regions on Wednesday, and up to 80mm in the South Waikato.
But it was less than MetService was expecting, so a severe weather warning was downgraded.
