Storms moving up the country

The warm holiday weather has come to an abrupt end in the south and MetService is now forecasting severe weather in both islands.

Winds have already gusted to 180km/h in parts of the far south, leading New Year campers to pack up and leave.

Power is out in parts of Wellington and some flights were grounded at the capital's airport.


A Wellington Airport spokesman said several flights on smaller commercial aircraft had been cancelled as they could not handle the strong northerly winds, which were gusting above 100km/h.


Even flights on larger aircraft such as Boeing 737s were touch and go, with several flights having to be diverted to Palmerston North.


"At the moment we are assessing the conditions as they arrive. If there is a lull in the wind they can land, if it is gusting too strongly they cannot," the spokesman said.


Ten groups have quit the Pounawea campground at Owaka, south of Balcutha, since the bad weather set in. Lessee Robin Miller says guests did not get much sleep last night.

Two faults in Wellington have cut power to up to 1300 homes in the northern suburbs, and to Plimmerton on the Kapiti Coast. United Networks' Wellington staff have been placed on standby in case strong winds dish up more problems.

People living on the country's eastern coasts are being urged to keep off the roads today.

MetService Forecaster Michael Short said the North Island would also be affected today by the low, with heavy rain around the Tararua Ranges and Mt Taranaki.

Mr Short said motorists and cyclists need to take extreme care, while caravanners should think twice about setting out at all. He said today would see the worst of the weather.

At Mid Dome in Central Otago gusts of 180km/h were measured this morning, fellow MetService forecaster Cameron Coutts said.

Police issued a warning of high winds on State Highway 2 north of Masterton, between Mount Bruce and Pahiatua. They also said motor homes and vehicles towing caravans should avoid SH8 in the area of Cromwell Gorge, Otago, until the weather improves.

MetService has issued severe weather warnings for coastal Southland including Invercargill, and other parts of central and southern New Zealand.

A deepening low was moving off south of Stewart Island but a flow of westerly winds was expected to stay put all week.

"We've got a succession of fronts coming up and it basically stays quite windy for the next three or four days," Mr Coutts said.

As well the Mid Dome 180km/h reading, Stewart Island was averaging 120km/h winds with 150km/h gusts.

Gales were also pounding Castlepoint on the Wairarapa coast, Mana Island off Porirua and Invercargill.

Mt Kau Kau in Wellington was buffeted by 130km/h gusts.

Heavy rain was also forecast today -- 100-120mm for the Tararua Ranges, 50-70mm for the ranges around Westland and Buller, and some heavy falls on Mt Taranaki.

The MetService was advising people in affected regions -- especially trampers, holiday-makers and those driving trucks, motorcycles and towing caravans -- to review their plans and keep up to date with the latest weather warnings.

- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB