Stormy front expected to bring wind, rain, thunder and lightning to much of the country as it moves its way north.
Wild weather has wreaked havoc in central and southern NZ with powerful winds and lightning storms pounding the country this morning.
A woman was seriously injured after a tree came down across her car in Christchurch and a truck has rolled in high winds on the Lewis Pass with its trailer left dangling over a bridge.
A large slip has come down across a central Wellington city road and fierce thunderstorms are marching up the South Island, unleashing a staggering 10,000 lightning strikes in just two hours.
Lightning strikes in Queenstown. Photo / James Allan
Wellington's Fire Service has been called to the 14 storey Spark building on central Willis St, after several panicked calls from the public that the roof was lifting off.
A Fire Service spokesperson said the incident was now under control and the roof secured.
The spectacular storms, which are working their way up the West Coast, started in Fiordland around midnight and continued relentlessly, turning night to day for those living in the far south.
On the other coast Dunedin was already sweltering above 20C at 6am as sizzling heat from Australia started to warm up eastern regions before dawn.
Southern night skies were last night constantly illuminated as lightning bolts flashed 45 times every minute.
Queenstown resident James Allan said it was hard to imagine anyone managing to sleep through the storm in Otago and Southland with hundreds of flashes between midnight and 6am "turning night to day".
@MetService Storms slowly spreading Nth along the SI west coast. Lightning strikes now approaching the 10,000 mark over past 2 hours. ^NZ pic.twitter.com/emq0koZmZF
MetService said the storms would continue to affect the entire West Coast today with rain and wind warnings issued for much of central and southern New Zealand.
Heavy rain is expected to drench parts of the West Coast and Tararua Ranges north of Wellington for the next 36 hours.
People are being warned to watch for flooding and slips, with waterways expected to rise dramatically and driving conditions becoming hazardous.
Adams said lightning and thunder would continue to lash the West Coast for the rest of the morning before starting to ease off a little after lunch.
Strong damaging winds are expected to barrel through eastern regions of both islands for the next two days.
The winds are expected to gust up to 130km/h in Wellington and top of the South Island from dawn until mid-morning tomorrow.
The powerful and damaging gales will be felt as far south as Southland and Stewart Island.
Wind and rain lashing Wellington Airport causing some delays to flights. Photo / Mark Mitchell
In the South Island police were warning motorists to slow down and drive carefully after a truck and trailer rolled in high winds on Lewis Pass near Island Hills. Part of the truck was hanging off the edge of a bridge and a crane was needed to clear the wreckage.
A woman is in a serious condition after a tree crushed her car just before 7.30am in Weedons Ross Rd, Selwyn.
Travel is starting to be disrupted with ferry sailings across Wellington Harbour now reduced because of deteriorating conditions and drivers heading over the Rimutaka Hill Rd warned to watch for strong wind gusts.
The Milford Rd has been closed due to torrential rain but expected to reopen before lunch.
Last nights flights in and out of Dunedin Airport were delayed and cancelled due to high winds.
Trees are over powerlines and roads from Ashburton to Springfield. Northern New Zealand will today remain unscathed by the ferocious conditions today with balmy temperatures in the 20s.
