Weather: Strong winds hit powerlines, cancel flights, ferries and close highways

Strong winds are battering the North and Upper South Islands, cancelling ferries and flights, closing highways, and cutting power to homes.

Heavy swell warnings were already in affect in Wellington and Wairarapa.

Strong wind watches were set to begin across the country later on Thursday.

A heavy rain watch would begin on Thursday night in the Gisborne and Wairoa District.

Northland was already under a strong wind watch, set to end at 6pm.

Power outages are affecting the Far North, with about 1000 Top Energy customers without power.

A spokesperson from the power company said the strong winds have caused trees to come down on power lines.

Most of the outages were in Te Kao in Northland, as well as surrounding suburbs and town.

The spokesperson said crews are out there now trying to fix this, hopefully by 2:30pm.

Cook Strait ferries Interislander and Bluebridge cancelled some sailings across Thursday and Friday, with Bluebridge cancelling an additional sailing on Saturday.

Wellington's East-by-West ferry cancelled two sailings today due to weather.

A scheduled flight from and to the Chatham Islands from Wellington that had been cancelled.

In Taranaki, State Highway 3 along the Awakino Gorge is closed due to fresh rock falls and slips overnight.

The gorge near New Plymouth was notorious for slips and closures during bad weather.

The agency said a barrier in place and designed to catch any material had done its job.

Metservice spokesman John Law said Wellington and the Marlbourough Sounds will see the strongest winds.

Law said the areas could see damage to trees and powerlines, with extra danger on roads particulary for high-side vehicles and motorcycles.

Gusts in Wellington could reach as much as 130 km/h in exposed areas like the South Coast, he said.

"I think even by Wellington's standards, it will be a windy story."

The swell in Wellington was not expected to be as bad as it was earlier this month, when 11 metre waves hit the coast.

MetService said waves rising to six metres could be expected early on Friday morning, with waves peaking near seven metres late on Friday morning.

Law said the public should take extra care around the coast and rough seas.

Snow in the south

Snow and ice have led to schools and roads being closed in Otago.

Gusts of about 90 km/h are not out of the question down the Southern Coast of the island, Law said.

"A pretty windy, blustery story as we head through Thursday and even through in towards that Friday as well."

Spokesman Law said the snow was a real change from high temperatures seen last week - something the ski fields can look forward to.

Snow warnings are in place for the Crown Range Road until 12pm, with one-to-two centimetres expected above 700 metres, and for the Lindis Pass until 2pm, with snow showers possible above 500 metres.

Snowfall warnings are also in place for Arthur's Pass (SH73) until 10pm, with snow showers lowering to 600 metres this afternoon, Lewis Pass (SH7) until the early hours of Friday, and Porters Pass (SH73) until 11pm, with 5 to 10 centimetres of snow expected to accumulate about the summit and 1 to 4 centimetres down to about 400 to 500 metres.

Coronet Peak ski field said 12 centimetres of snow had fallen in the last 24 hours.

Staff warned of delays to ski buses because of the road conditions and said chains must be fitted to all vehicles.

The Remarkables ski field said it had received about 10 centimetres of snow and expected to open on Saturday.

Naseby Holiday Park owner Beth Connell said it was like a winter wonderland, with snow on the ground and a picturesque dusting on trees.

She said two "hardy souls" were staying in caravans, as well as other guests in cosy cabins with wood burning stoves.

Connell said the holiday park usually had several snow dumps each winter, though Thursday's falls were slightly later than usual for the first of the season.

St Bathans Vulcan Hotel staffer Ashleigh Wright said she woke to a blanket of snow around four-to-five centimetres deep.

She said the roads were quieter than usual but customers were still coming through keen to get photos of the town's snow-covered historic main street.

State Highway 8 between Omarama and Tarras including the Lindis Pass is closed, as well as Queenstown's Crown Range Road after a vehicle became stranded on Thursday morning.

State Highway 85 between Lauder and Wedderburn is also closed until further notice due to heavy snow and ice.

Plough and grit trucks are working to clear the road although drivers are being advised to use the alternative route on State Highway 6 via Cromwell.