Strong wind and rain to move up the country

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Weather warnings for strong wind and rain are in place as a front bringing foul weather makes its way up the country.

MetService duty forecaster David Miller said a front currently sitting over the South Island was slowly moving northwards.

"That's bringing some severe weather for parts of the country - wind and rain and possible thunderstorms this afternoon."

Severe weather warnings were in place for western South Island areas including Fiordland, Westland and the headwaters of Canterbury Lakes district, and also for the Tararua Ranges in the North Island - where heavy rain was expected to develop, Mr Miller said.

"We've also got a strong wind warning for strong northwesterlies ahead of that front for the Marlborough Sounds and Wellington, Wairarapa and the Rimutaka Hill Road."

As the front approached Auckland it would weaken. However, rain was still expected to reach the city later this evening, Mr Miller said.

"There might be a few morning showers tomorrow for Auckland, but it's going to clear off pretty quickly."

Other areas of the country were currently subject to a weather watch, he said.

The Otago headwaters, Southland and Mt Taranaki were currently subject to a weather watch for heavy rain, while Canterbury, Marlborough, north-west Nelson, Kapiti and Central Hawke's Bay were subject to a heavy wind watch, Mr Miller said.

"There's quite a lot of active weather going on today.

"The good news is that this front does move off overnight. By tomorrow it's going to be a much better day for most people and then we've got another front that's approaching the far south late tomorrow night."