Photo: RNZ / Eveline Harvey
A series of marine warnings for areas around Auckland have been issued as the city is again hit by stormy conditions.
MetService warned on Friday morning Auckland may be battered by hail and thunderstorms throughout the day.
Earlier, Waka Kotahi issued an amber travel alert for the city's Harbour Bridge, with wind gusts expected to reach as high as 80km/h.
Speeds were reduced and lanes may close across the bridge. Delays were expected, and travellers warned to take extra care if driving lighter vehicles.
Due to heavy sea conditions, some Auckland transport ferry services were unable to stop at Northcote. All ferry services travelling to and from the suburb have been replaced with taxis.
Squall warnings have been issued for the Waitemata Harbour. Southwesterly winds were expected to reach over 70km/h east of the Harbour Bridge late Friday morning, before easing in the afternoon. But MetService said there were chances of "squally thunderstorms" on Friday evening, with wind gusts up to 92km/h.
The outlook for the weekend through to Monday was continued showers with southwesterly winds.
"A disturbed west to southwest flow affects the country today," MetService's website said on Friday morning. A much stronger and colder southwest flow covers the country from Saturday to Monday."
No formal thunderstorm or rain warnings or watches for Auckland were in place as of 8am Friday.
MetService's meteorologist David Miller said despite the forecast, there will be lulls in the rain and wind.
"Unfortunately we're going to be in this pretty strong westerly setup for the next few days and over the weekend. It doesn't really ease off until Tuesday and into Wednesday."
A severe thunderstorm watch has also been issued for Northland from 8pm Friday, with warnings of damaging wind gusts up to 110km/h.
Gale warnings have also been issued for Raglan on the west coast of the North Island, and Colville on the western side of the Coromandel Peninsula.
There were heavy snow watches and a road snowfall warning in place for Southland.
