Residents along a large part of the country's east coast are being warned to expect potentially damaging gales from tomorrow morning.
Hair-raising winds are on the way. Photo: RNZ
The Met Service has issued a severe weather warning from Southland to central Hawke's Bay.
It said severe gale northwesterlies, which could gust up to 140km/h will start hitting Stewart Island, eastern Otago and south Canterbury tomorrow morning, moving into inland Canterbury and the high country tomorrow afternoon.
In the North Island, gales will start affecting parts of Wairarapa, the Tararua District and central Hawke's Bay tomorrow afternoon and into Wednesday morning.
Strong Wind Warning issued for CANTP, CANTH, NTAGO, CTAGO, DNEDN, STEW https://t.co/V87jjQaS5w
— Severe Weather Info (@MetServiceWARN) December 25, 2016
The Met Service said the winds had the potential to cause damage to unsecure buildings and vegetation, as well as make driving conditions hazardous especially for motorcycles and high-sided vehicles.
There was also a warning for a short period of heavy rain in Fiordland early on Tuesday.
