"Quite a nasty rough spell" is on the cards for the upper North Island overnight and tomorrow, 1News meteorologist Dan Corbett says, with a "one-two punch" of gale force winds, showers, and thunderstorms forecast.
A low is expected to pass close to the south of the South Island tomorrow, spreading a strong southwest flow over the country, according to MetService.
Strong wind watches are in place for Auckland, including Great Barrier Island, west coast of Waikato north of Kawhia Harbour, the Coromandel Peninsula and the Kaimai Range from 4pm tomorrow to 2am on Thursday; Western Taranaki west of about a line from Urenui to Hāwera tomorrow from 2pm to 9pm; coastal parts of Clutha and Dunedin from the Otago Peninsula southwards tomorrow from 8am to 6pm; and Stewart Island and coastal parts of mainland Southland tomorrow from 8am to 2pm.
Southwesterlies may rise to severe gale in exposed places, it said.
Corbett said showers and thunderstorms have been forecast for "much of Northland, Auckland, the west coast of the North Island".
Power cuts and damage are possible for the upper and western North Island from this evening, 1News meteorologist Dan Corbett says.
"You think 'wow, I'm done — no ... As the low deepens, it's a bit like pulling the string on the lawnmower — boof, off it goes."
From 6am tomorrow, Taranaki will see "squally thunderstorms" and "potentially damaging winds" which will then head north to Auckland from lunchtime into the afternoon, he said.
"And we're not done — not just thunderstorms and damaging winds. The swells — four to six metres across parts of the west of the North Island."
NIWA warned wind gusts could reach near or over 100 km/h in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, and Taranaki.
"The strongest gusts are likely over coastal and elevated areas," it said on X.
"Localised power cuts and damage are possible."
Due to the high wind warnings, Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) urged drivers in Auckland to take extra care on the Harbour Bridge tomorrow.
"It is likely that speed limits will be reduced and some lanes on the bridge could close if wind gusts reach threshold levels," NZTA said in a statement.
NZTA said there was a "possibility that all lanes on the bridge could close temporarily" if threshold levels were reached.
The South Island won't come out unscathed, MetService said.
Road snowfall warnings are in place overnight for Lindis Pass (SH8) from 1am to 4am; Crown Range Rd from 1am to 8am; and Milford Rd (SH94) from 10pm tonight to 3am tomorrow.
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