More gales and rain for lower North Island

5.00pm

The lower North Island will continue to be hit by heavy rain and severe gales tomorrow, the MetService warned today.

Wind gusts of 130km/h were expected in exposed parts of Wellington, coastal Wairarapa, Wanganui and southern Taranaki.

Parts of Wairarapa and Wellington could expect as much as 150mm of rain by noon tomorrow, forecaster Andy Downs said in a statement.

"People are advised to beware of rapidly rising rivers and hazardous driving conditions."

Drivers of large trucks and those towing caravans were warned to be particularly careful.

"These winds could damage trees, powerlines and lift roof iron," Mr Downs said.

Winds gusts of up to 120km/h were recorded around the North Island today, with the Fire Service central communications centre reporting a rise in call-outs at the day progressed.

"There was plenty of loose roofing and trees blown down around the Wellington area, flooding in Feilding, Palmerston North, central Hawke's Bay and at the fire station in Wanganui," shift manager David Meikle told NZPA.

"However, there have been no people rescued and no injuries reported."

The Fire Service was expecting a fairly busy night tonight, he said.

Masterton police said conditions around the Wairarapa were "rough".

"Our roads and rivers are okay, but the wind is more severe in Masterton than in South Wairarapa," a spokesman told NZPA.

Motorists on State Highway 3, between Te Kuiti to Awakino in the central North Island, were advised to take care, with several trees down.

In the South Island, State Highway 6, between Hokitika and Haast Pass was being beaten by high winds today, while care was advised on some exposed Dunedin city roads.

A westerly gale blasted over the top half of the North Island yesterday.

The Fire Service said high winds toppled trees and blocked roads, brought down power lines and took the roof off a house.

At Lake Rotoiti trees were blown over in a caravan park, damaging some caravans.

The MetService said winds in the lower North Island would ease from noon tomorrow.

Heavy rainfall was forecast for Gisborne and Hawke's Bay tomorrow, with some thundery showers over the North Island and South Island on Tuesday.

Wednesday's forecast was for fine weather in the east of the North Island and showers in the west, with some heavy rain on the South Island's west coast.

- NZPA