The start of the windier weather is today pushing into parts of the South Island as it slowly moves northwards for Friday and the weekend.

Over the next 24 hours WeatherWatch.co.nz says the bulk of the windy weather will be southern and eastern areas of the South Island and central parts of New Zealand.  During Friday the winds push further north while easing somewhwat in the south, especially south of mid Canterbury.

On Saturday morning it will be Wellington and central New Zealand with the strongest gusts.  Gale force winds are likely.

As Saturday wears on strong to gale west to north west winds will spread further afield across the nation – but damaging gusts, for the most part, are not expected. 

During Sunday winds will gradually ease in a number of places in the North Island as the day goes on – but in the south the worst of the winds will peak as the main and final surge of energy moves in during the afternoon.

The Sunday PM change over the South Island may bring hurricane force winds (120km/h) to exposed areas south of Wellington.

The coldest of the air will move into Southland and Otago in the evening with snow lowering on the ranges and sleet and hail likely to low levels for a time.

By early Monday morning the cold change will be affecting most of New Zealand with winds easing for many places by evening – for the upper North Island the cold change won’t be too harsh.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz