Strong winds and wet weather are predicted to hit most of the country over the next three days.
Strong winds today will be followed by showers on Saturday as a front moves up the country, leaving colder temperatures in its wake.
"The dominant weather at the moment is definitely the wind," MetService meteorologist Tom Adams said.
Wind gusts of 140km/h were recorded at Mid Dome in Southland and 110km/h on the Rimutaka hill near Wellington.
The worst of the wind in the south started last night, and would hit the North Island about 6pm tonight, Adams said.
MetService has a weather watch out for eastern parts of the North Island and for the Canterbury high country, Otago and Southland.
A couple of fronts were moving slowly up the South Island today, bringing with them showers especially on the West Coast.
The North Island will enjoy a bit of sunshine today before the front moves north, bringing rain tomorrow.
The weather should fine up around the country by Sunday, but temperatures behind the front will drop, in some places by as much 7C.
Christchurch is forecast for a high of 21C today, dropping to 14C with colder air behind the front on Sunday, Adams said.
This drop was likely to be similar in Wellington but not as marked in Auckland.
Today's forecast
Dunedin: A few showers before dawn, then long fine spells until showers return this evening. Strong westerlies. High 16C
Queenstown: Partly cloudy. Chance evening shower. Westerlies, strengthening during the day. High 14C
Auckland: Cloudy periods, and isolated showers until afternoon. Westerlies. High 20C
Wellington: Fine with high cloud. Chance evening shower in northern suburbs. Strong, gusty northwesterlies. High 18C
Christchurch: Fine, high cloud at times. Northwesterlies strengthening during the day, easing tonight. High 21C
