Extreme weather returns

Gale force winds have moved into the Far North.

Philip Duncan of WeatherWatch said winds were already gusting to almost 100 kilometres an hour. Rain is also moving into Northland.

In Auckland winds are rising, with gusts of more than 50 kilometres an hour recorded.

Mr Duncan says the storm - fuelled by a low pressure system in the Tasman Sea moving on to northern New Zealand - will bring flooding in northern regions, and the Bay of Plenty is particularly at risk.

- NEWSTALK ZB