KEY POINTS:
A storm with hurricane force winds is making itself felt at lower tip of the North Island.
Winds will pick up in Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington and Masterton over the next 24 hours and Gore is already being battered by winds gusting 100kph which is enough to lift roofs.
Philip Duncan, TRN weather analyst, says the storm will have an impact on both North and South Islands.
Environment Canterbury is warning people to keep clear of rivers which will swell as heavy rain sets in. One-hundred-and-50 millimetres of rain has already fallen along the main divide, which will raise the water levels of major alpine rivers in North Canterbury, Rakaia, Waimakariri, Hurunui and Waiau.
- NEWSTALK ZB
