Wind likely for long Wairarapa weekend

Winds of up to 130kmh are on the horizon for Wairarapa heading into the coming long weekend.

Winds of 130km/h are on the horizon heading into Labour Weekend, prompting MetService to warn motorists, especially those driving high-sided vehicles, such as curtain-sided trucks and campervans, and motorcyclists.

Then a mixed bag of weather is expected throughout the weekend from days of sunshine to rain and "heavy breezes" as spring weather has an impact.

The worst of the weather, crossing the bottom of the North Island from the south and affecting Wairarapa, is due tomorrow morning, bringing rain and gale-force winds.

MetService forecaster John Law said a low deepening over the Tasman was due to hit the south of the country late tonight with the brunt of the winds to be felt tomorrow morning across the region as the winds hit the top of the Tararua Ranges and headed down into Wairarapa.

The high winds were expected to increase throughout the morning, but die later in the day. "The winds will increase [tonight] and go through [tomorrow] into early afternoon. Winds of 130km/h will hit the Wairarapa as a northwesterly flow hits," he said.

Motorists needed to take extreme care, Mr Law said.

"They need to keep an eye on the weather and take that extra bit of care."

Meanwhile, the rest of the Labour Weekend break was expected to be a washout, providing a mixing bag of weather for holidaymakers.

"Most of the wind should have died down by [tomorrow] afternoon but there will be a few gusty northwesterly winds through Saturday and possibly some rain."

There could be a few light showers throughout the day on Sunday with light winds the rest of the weekend, Mr Law said.

"There are going to be a few breezes throughout the weekend as the strong northwesterly moves away."