Severe gale-force winds and heavy rain are forecast for parts of Otago today, and Aurora Energy has warned about the possibility of power outages.
The MetService issued a strong wind warning for Otago, Southland and Canterbury, with gale-force winds expected to peak this afternoon and ease by evening.
''Northwesterly gales will be rising to severe gales, with gusts of up to 130kmh in exposed places,'' MetService meteorologist Lisa Murray said.
Inland areas would be particularly affected by the wind, she said.
Yesterday and today's warm weather - the high reached 19degC in Dunedin yesterday afternoon - were the result of ''air coming off Australia in the Queensland area''.
''Once the front goes through, it'll get much colder,'' Ms Murray said.
Aurora Energy issued its own warning in response to the strong wind notice for Otago.
''The public should be aware that strong winds and heavy rains can create potential electricity-related hazards, and be prepared for the possibility of power outages,'' Aurora said in a statement.
Communications manager Gary Johnson said the main concern was strong winds, ''which create the potential for lines to clash''.
Ms Murray said the northwesterly was expected to ''swoop down and become quite gusty on the eastern side of the Southern Alps ... which can cause damage''.
The MetService also issued a heavy rain warning for Otago, Canterbury and Fiordland, although Ms Murray said she expected the Dunedin area to only get ''a bit'' of rain, nothing like the amount which fell and caused flooding last week.
The area around the Otago headwaters was expected to get the bulk of the rain and 150mm-200mm was predicted to fall before midnight tonight.
