Possible severe gales as strong wind watches issued across South Island, lower North

Wind watches have been issued for much of the South Island and lower North, with possible severe gales in some places.
MetService has issued strong wind watches for several southern regions on Wednesday, including the Canterbury High Country, Fiordland, Southland, and the Queenstown Lakes district, as a trough approaches from the Tasman Sea, bringing a strengthening northwesterly flow.
Meteorologist Matthew Ford said winds in areas with watches are forecasted to pick up significantly from Wednesday afternoon as the trough advances, particularly in exposed areas.
“It’s starting to feel like early spring really, with things warming up a little bit and the classic succession of fronts and troughs moving across from the Tasman Sea,” he said.
🟡Latest Severe Weather Info🌧️Buller sees a second wave of rain this afternoon, which could be heavy in places💨Meanwhile, winds pick on Wednesday, with strong gusts possible for the South Island and lower North Island pic.twitter.com/q3lW1ScK2h
In the upper South Island and lower North Island, including Wellington, Wairarapa, and the Marlborough Sounds, strong winds are expected from early Thursday morning.
MetService said north to northwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places, and there’s a high chance of upgrading from a watch to a warning.
These winds may cause damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures.
“Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles,” it said on its site.
“Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously.”
Spring is around the corner, but before we get there, this week sees a mix of gusty winds, wet weather, and surprisingly warm temps for winter🌬️🌧️🌡️But don’t worry, the sun’s planning to peek through now and then🌤️Full outlook: https://t.co/Yjbq0jgaoz pic.twitter.com/Ef2DvGx7jL
Ford said other major centres of Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch are not expected to experience extreme weather.
Auckland, in particular, is forecasted to have a relatively uneventful day with a mix of cloud and the occasional shower, accompanied by light westerly winds.
The temperature is expected to reach a comfortable high of around 17 degrees.
Wellington will see a similar trend, with mild temperatures peaking at about 16 degrees with early morning showers.
Christchurch is set for a relatively calm day, some low cloud may linger along the coast in the morning, but the skies are expected to clear as the day progresses.
Winds in Christchurch will turn to a northeasterly direction, picking up slightly in the afternoon, but remaining moderate, and the city will have an average high of 17 degrees.
In Dunedin, the outlook is consistent with other parts of the country. The city is expected to see some cloud cover with northerly winds throughout the day and temperatures around 17 degrees.