The gales and strong winds that are hammering the North Island aren’t going to leave anytime soon.

While severe wind warnings are being eased today the blustery westerly flow is likely to remain for many North Islanders until the middle of next week.

Unlike wet weather, which tends to come and go, the windy weather is likely to remain constant.  WeatherWatch.co.nz says just like the affects the nor’wester can do to people in Canterbury the strong westerlies over the North Island may start to irritate people fast.

Gale force winds are creeping back in to Wellington this morning after a calm, sunny, start to the day.  Gusts are now reaching 80km/h in the city and 95km/h on the hills.

In Auckland gusts are reaching 90km/h in exposed parts of the city and over 105km/h on the Manukau Heads.

New Plymouth has a borderline gale force north westerly with gusts hitting 85km/h at the airport and over 75km/h in Hawera, to the south east of the mountain.

Hicks Bay on East Cape has gale force westerlies gusting to gusts to 80km/h.

The calmest centre in New Zealand at 9:30am was Timaru with a 2km/h westerly.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says Invercargil has a brisk westerly and snow creating a wind chill of -5.

Image / Storm damage from last night – Brian Hamilton, Manukau Heads