Photo: MetService
MetService has issued several orange level warnings for parts of the South Island and the lower North Island.
Severe gales are expected to batter inland Canterbury from midnight before moving towards Christchurch and Banks Peninsula from 4am.
Damaging gusts of more than 140 kilometres could bring down trees, powerlines and unsecured structures late tomorrow morning.
The severe winds were expected to shake Marlborough, Wellington and Wairapa early tomorrow morning.
Up to 150 millimetres of rain was expected to hit Westland, south of Otira, and the Canterbury headwaters south of Arthurs Pass from tomorrow.
Orange wind warnings
- Wellington and Wairarapa south of Carterton 6am - 6pm Saturday
- Marlborough 3am - 5pm Saturday
- Westland south of Otira 1am - 3pm Saturday
- Headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers south of Arthur's Pass 2am - 3pm Saturday
- Canterbury High Country midnight Friday - 4pm Saturday
- Canterbury Plains, and Christchurch including Banks Peninsula 4am - 4pm Saturday