Wind gusts over 150km/h have been recorded overnight in exposed areas of Wellington, with the strong wind causing flight disruptions in the capital.
Yesterday MetService issued heavy rain watches and warnings, alongside strong wind warnings for parts of the country as a low pressure system moved across the motu.
Wellington Airport has seen over 60 flight cancellations.
"This is likely to increase as the forecast is not good for the rest of the day," a spokesperson said.
"Passengers should check with their airlines for information on specific flights."
Air NZ also addressed the disruption.
"Strong winds are impacting Wellington this morning, with gusts exceeding 50 knots. As a result, we have cancelled a number of domestic flights in and out of Wellington," Air NZ chief operations officer Kate Boyer said.
"Our teams are closely monitoring the conditions and will only operate flights when it is safe to do so."
Motorists are advised to take extreme caution, and high-sided vehicles.
The Wellington Region Emergency Management Office said it was seeing power outages and reports of downed trees and roofs lifting.
It urged people to avoid parks and reserves due to the risk of falling trees and brances, and caution when driving or walking along roads exposed to the sea.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews in New Plymouth and Wellington attended 78 weather-related incidents between 6pm and around 9.30am.
"The incidents included trees and power lines blown down, and roofs lifting. Crews continue today to respond to weather related incidents in the area this morning."
MetService meteorologist Heather Keats said the strong winds and heavy rain was due to a low pressure system sitting to the northeast of the country.
"It's slow, it's spinning away. There's a whole bunch of fronts, essentially it's just a really messy setup," she told Breakfast.
Over the past few days of severe gales and downpours, Keats said there was also around 300 lightning strikes recorded across the country.
"I had a look through the observations overnight. Mount Kaukau, quite an elevated and exposed spot for Wellington, but overnight they had gusts of over 150km an hour."
"We've had downpours coming through, so Gisborne recording sort of 35mm of rain in an hour, and also those large swells too, again in Wellington Harbour, Baring Head has had waves of over 8m, so a lot going on," she explained.
Orange heavy rain warnings were in effect for the Tararua Range, Wairarapa south of Masterton, and Wellington excluding Porirua until midnight.
Strong wind warnings were also issued for Taranaki, Wellington, and Marlborough east of Seddon including the Sounds.
The forecaster warned of severe gale south to southeasterlies with damaging gusts of 130 km/h in exposed places, especially north of Taranaki Maunga.
Canterbury closures for snow and ice
New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said parts of both State Highway 73 between Christchurch and the West Coast, and State Highway 8 in the Mackenzie Basin, were closed this morning because of snow and ice.
NZTA said State Highway 73 between Springfield and Arthur’s Pass Village, and State Highway 8 between Lake Tekapo and Twizel were closed, with a detour route for the latter available via State Highways 8, 1, 82 and 83.
An NZTA spokesperson said there were also multiple area warnings in place across other central South Island state highways due to the ice risk and winter driving conditions.
"People are urged to take extra care if travelling on these inland roads."
Meanwhile, State Highway 6/Taramakau Highway north of Kumara Junction on the West Coast is under traffic management following a crash that earlier closed the road.
Road users are advised to take extra care when travelling along this route, and to follow directions provided at the site.
SH3 in Waitara closed due to fallen trees
NZTAsaid a stretch of State Highway 3 at Waitara was closed this morning after fallen trees blocked the highway.
"SH3 is currently closed between Princess Street and Nelson Street and crews are on scene to clear the fallen trees," an NZTA spokesperson said.
A detour was currently in place.
Keats said the lower half of the South Island "wasn't looking too bad today" following a dump of low-level snow yesterday which closed some roads.
"I'll be really interested once the sun comes up to see some of those pictures out of the South Island. I reckon places like Hanmer Springs probably got a lot of snow last night, so it'll be great to see that," she said.
"There's a couple of other watches scattered around, snow is expected again today for higher spots of North Canterbury and Marlborough.
"So, we've got road snowfall warnings in place for Lewis Pass and Porters Pass, but things are improving. It's just going to take today for most of that severe weather to clear out."
Current watches and warnings list
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
The Tararua Range, Wairarapa south of Masterton, and Wellington excluding Porirua – 18hrs from 6am to midnight tonight.
Strong Wind Warning – Orange
Taranaki – 16hrs from midnight Thursday to 4pm today.
Wellington, also Marlborough east of Seddon including the Sounds – 21hrs from 9pm Thursday to 6pm today.
Heavy Rain Watch
Gisborne/Tairawhiti and the Wairoa District – 18hrs from 8pm Thursday to 2pm today.
Strong Wind Watch
Whanganui – 12hrs from 5am today to 5pm today.
Wairarapa and the Tararua District – 12hrs from midnight Thursday to midday today.
Horowhenua and Kapiti Coast – 17hrs from 10pm Thursday to 3pm today.
Buller, Grey and Westland Districts, also Nelson Lakes National Park – 16hrs from 8pm Thursday to noon today.
Road Snowfall Warning
Lewis Pass (SH7) – 27hrs from 9pm Thursday to midnight today.
Porters Pass (SH73) – 15hrs from 9pm Thursday to noon today.
Heavy Swell Warning
Wairarapa – Turakirae Head to Flat Point – 6hrs from 3am today to 9am today.
Wellington – Cape Terawhiti to Turakirae Head – 21hrs from 3am today to midnight today.
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