Winds are picking up across the country ahead of several unsettled days on the way.

In Auckland gusty west-south-west winds have hovered near gale force out on Auckland Harbour with gusts to 50km/h on land and up to 65km/h in exposed places.

Gusty winds have also blown through Taranaki today helping lift temperatures into the mid teens.

So far the northerlies in Wellington have been relatively light with mostly light winds in the South Island too although winds from the northerly quarter have been a little gusty in places like Southland, Central Otago and in a few parts of Canterbury.

WeatherWatch.co.nz believes rain and possibly wind warnings will be issued over the coming days with MetService also indicating a good chance of rain warnings for the West Coast although low confidence of severe wind in the east.