Wild weather: 'You name it, we've got it'

The winds brought down trees near Massey University's main entrance in Palmerston North. Photo / Rashmi Premaratne

Severe winds have lifted roofs and brought down trees across the North Island, however Auckland and Northland have been spared the worst of the wild weather.

Fire Service central communications shift manager Jan Wills said the fire service had dealt with dozens of call-outs across Wellington, Wairarapa, Palmerston North and Wanganui.

"We've had roofs lifted, lines down, trampolines flying. You name it, we've got it."

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Further north, a tree came down on to a house and caravan in Kawerau, and many roofs have been lifted off on the east coast from Whangamata to Papamoa.

Fire Service northern communications shift manager Jarron Philips said trees had also come down on to roads and cars in Rotorua and Hamilton.

There had been no reports of injuries from fallen trees, Mr Philips said.

However, winds in Auckland and Coromandel were not as damaging, MetService meteorologist John Law said.

Central Auckland had recorded wind gusts of 90 km/h, while MetService put out a severe weather watch for winds up to 100 km/h in Auckland and 110 km/h in Coromandel.

"There's still some pretty gusty winds coming," Mr Law said.

Two people escaped uninjured when high winds rolled a small truck on the Napier-Hastings Expressway at Taradale, Napier. Photo / SNPA / Kerry Marshall

Power was knocked out in Auckland suburbs Green Bay, Riverhead and Titirangi due to the high winds.

The south-westerlies were expected to drop off tonight, before a calm day for most of the country tomorrow.

Meanwhile, train services in Wellington were cancelled this afternoon due to a fallen tree damaging electrical lines.

A Kiwi Rail spokesman said Metro services on the Melling Line were halted and bus replacements operated between Petone and Upper Hutt. Services resumed about 6pm.

Powerco Network Operations Manager Phil Marsh said winds of well over 100 km/h had ripped across the lower North Island, leaving about 9000 properties without power.

He said the customers were mainly in rural areas of Western Bay of Plenty, Manawatu, Wairarapa and Tararua.

Mr Marsh said Powerco was mindful it was the school holidays and warned parents living in storm affected areas to keep themselves and their children away from downed power lines.

Powerco expected to complete the majority of repairs this evening. However, it was likely about 2000 to 3000 customers would be without power overnight.

About 1400 customers were also without power across Rotorua.

MetService has severe weather warnings still in place for Wellington, Wairarapa and Central Hawkes Bay until 9pm.

More settled weather on Tuesday would be followed by more high winds on Wednesday, Mr Law said.

"Tuesday will be a bit more settled, then a little burst of windier weather on Wednesday but it will be a more settled towards the end of the week," Mr Law said.

"It's spring, you've got to be watching the forecasts."

Main centres for tomorrow:

Whangarei: Fine with winds dying out. High of 18C low of 6C.

Auckland: Fine with winds easing. High of 16C and low of 8C.

Hamilton: Fine with winds dying out. High of 17C low of 5C.

Tauranga: Fine with winds easing. High of 18C low of 8C.

Wellington: Fine with strengthening northwesterlies. High of 14C low of 10C.

Christchurch: Fine with northerly winds in the evening. High 15C and low 8C.

Dunedin: Fine with northerly winds. A high of 14C and low of 9C.