Wild weather set to hit Canterbury - northern NZ gets a break

The winds brought down trees near Massey University's main entrance in Palmerston North. Photo / Rashmi Premaratne

Severe winds are expected to pound inland Canterbury today but northern New Zealand should enjoy a brief break from stormy, windy weather.

The MetService has issued severe weather warnings for the South Island's West Coast and the Southern Alps, where heavy rain was expected this evening.

MetService meteorologist John Law said northwesterly winds would intensify across parts of Southland and Otago as the day progressed.

But the strongest winds are expected to hit inland Canterbury and nearby alpine foothills, where gusts could reach 150 km/h overnight.

MetService said an active front could dump 120mm on the Alps in a deluge lasting nine to 12 hours. Thunderstorms were expected in Fiordland.

Tonight and early tomorrow, parts of Marlborough could feel the brunt of the front. Northwest gales were forecast to develop in the region and gusts could reach up to 130km/h in exposed places.

In the lower North Island this morning, most areas were experiencing calmer, sunnier conditions than yesterday, when winds reached 140km/h in Wellington and knocked over power lines in Wairarapa and Manawatu.

The reprieve would probably not last until tomorrow, Mr Law said.

"We'll probably be okay for today but we are expecting those winds to pick back up again as we head through into the earlier part of Wednesday morning."

Hilly areas around Wellington and in the Wairarapa could also be subject to gale force winds tonight.

Further north, a high pressure system was building, causing winds to ease. Gusts would probably pick up in Auckland and the Coromandel again tomorrow.

Meanwhile, a road snowfall warning was in place for the Desert Road today, where the MetService said up to 2cm of snow could possibly accumulate.