A strong wind watch for Auckland has been upgraded to an Orange Warning by MetService this morning, with wind gusts of 120km/h possible in exposed places from 3pm today.
"Quite a nasty rough spell" was on the cards for the upper North Island overnight and on Wednesday, 1News meteorologist Dan Corbett said, with a "one-two punch" of gale force winds, showers, and thunderstorms forecast.
A low was expected to pass close to the south of the South Island on Wednesday, spreading a strong southwest flow over the country, according to MetService.
Severe thunderstorm watches are in place for Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, and Waikato from 2pm to 7pm.
"Squally showers embedded in a very strong southwest flow are expected across Auckland, and western parts of Waikato and Coromandel Peninsula during Wednesday afternoon and early evening. There is a moderate risk of severe thunderstorms during this time, with localised damaging wind gusts in excess of 110 km/h," MetService warned.
"Wind gusts of this strength can cause some structural damage, including trees and power lines, and may make driving hazardous."
Orange strong wind warnings are in place for Auckland and Great Barrier Island from 3pm Wednesday to 2am on Thursday. During this period, severe gale southwesterlies will be gusting 120km/h in exposed places.
Strong wind watches are in place for Northland from Dargaville and Whangārei southwards from 5pm Wednesday to 2am Thursday; Coromandel Peninsula and the Kaimai Range from 4pm Wednesday to 1am Thursday; Waikato north of Kawhia Harbour, Te Awamutu and Matamata from 3pm Wednesday to 1am Thursday; Taranaki west of Hāwera to Urenui from 2pm to 9pm Wednesday; coastal parts of Dunedin and Clutha from the Otago Peninsula southwards from 7am to 4pm Wednesday; and Stewart Island and coastal parts of Southland from 4am to 12pm Wednesday.
Southwesterlies may rise to severe gale in exposed places, it said.
In addition, road snowfall warnings are in place overnight for Lindis Pass (SH8) from 1am to 4am; Crown Range Rd from 1am to 8am; and Milford Rd (SH94) from 10pm to 3am Wednesday.
Corbett said showers and thunderstorms have been forecast for "much of Northland, Auckland, the west coast of the North Island".
Power cuts and damage are possible for the upper and western North Island from this evening, 1News meteorologist Dan Corbett says. (Source: 1News)
"You think 'wow, I'm done — no ... As the low deepens, it's a bit like pulling the string on the lawnmower — boof, off it goes."
From 6am Wednesday, Taranaki will see "squally thunderstorms" and "potentially damaging winds" which will then head north to Auckland from lunchtime into the afternoon, he said.
"And we're not done — not just thunderstorms and damaging winds. The swells — four to six metres across parts of the west of the North Island."
Power cuts, damage possible - NIWA
NIWA warned wind gusts could reach near or over 100 km/h in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, and Taranaki.
"The strongest gusts are likely over coastal and elevated areas," it said on X.
"Localised power cuts and damage are possible."
Due to the high wind warnings, Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) urged drivers in Auckland to take extra care on the Harbour Bridge on Wednesday.
"It is likely that speed limits will be reduced and some lanes on the bridge could close if wind gusts reach threshold levels," NZTA said in a statement.
NZTA said there was a "possibility that all lanes on the bridge could close temporarily" if threshold levels were reached.
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