Gales for Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa

MetService warned powerlines could be damaged. File Photo / Alex Robertson

MetService is warning of a severe westerly gales heading towards Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa.

Wind gusts of up to 120km/h are expected to hit exposed places in Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa between midnight tonight and midday Thursday.

That could cause damage to powerlines and make driving difficult, especially for motorcycles and high-sided vehicles, MetService said.

The winds are the result of a moving front that caused storms and snowfall across the South Island yesterday.

Intense bursts of rainhit Fiordland and Westland and five to 10cm of snowfall was recorded at high levels.

Arthurs Pass, Lewis Pass and Porters Pass all received snow showers and Milford Rd between Te Anau and Milford Sound was closed on Tuesday morning.

- NZHERALD STAFF