Severe gales are tonight slamming parts of eastern and central New Zealand with power cuts, trees down and a warning from Canterbury police for people to stay off the roads

It is a sleepless night for many as the gales work their way northward into the North Island.  

Christchurch and Wellington are currently most exposed to the damaging spring winds while in Dunedin stormy conditions earlier today have eased significantly in the past hour, from gusting to 45km/h down to 7km/h.

In Chrisrtchurch gale force nor’westers are gusting to near 100km/h.  

Further inland across Canterbury and winds are far worse.  “I’ve seen trees down and the power is out through some inland parts of Canterbury” says weather analyst Aaron Wilkinson.  

Mr Wilkinson says the worst of the winds will move into the North Island during Wednesday.

Already in Wellington north west gales are gusting into the 90km/h range.

WeatherWatch.co.nz, like Canterbury Police, suggest people should remain indoors overnight and stay off the roads.  Conditions are dangerous and falling trees, branches, powerlines or even roofing iron all pose risks to life and property.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz