Strong winds coming

A widespread bout of strong northwesterly winds will hit the East Coast and Wellington tomorrow and on Monday, bringing heavy rain to the Southern Alps.

MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt described the winds as "equinoctial gales", caused by the contrast between extreme cold in Antarctica and emerging tropical weather heading southward.

"It feeds off the difference in temperature between the tropics and Antarctica, so it's no surprise they're strong and widespread at the moment."