Auckland Harbour Bridge remains open to motorists despite warnings of multiple lane closures as strong winds continue to batter the Super City.
A severe wind shift on Sunday had forecasted gusts of up to 90km/h, according to MetService.
The bridge operations team were prepared to close one southbound lane and two northbound lanes as a precaution until the wind had settled, NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) senior journey manager Neil Walker said in a statement.
In an update shortly after 11:30am, the NZTA confirmed the predicted period of unsettled, high winds had passed without the need for precautionary closures.
"Our threshold for closing lanes was the wind gusting to 80km/h. The wind got to 74km/h before easing back just after 10am," Walker said.
"MetService says the worst of the morning's windy weather has now passed over Auckland, so we're standing down on lane closures for now."
If the wind had reached 90km/h, a second southbound lane would have been closed, Walker said earlier on Sunday.
MetService had also forecasted gusts up to 110km/h from roughly 10:15am - the strength of which would have lead to the closure of all Harbour Bridge lanes.
Two trucks crossing the Harbour Bridge were toppled by gale-force winds on Friday, September 18, causing significant damage to the bridge's structure. A central strut now needs replacing, a process that could take multiple weeks, according to the NZTA.
Due to the damage, Walker noted that the NZTA is taking a "conservative approach to the safety of the bridge and our customers" at this time.
Motorists, especially drivers of high-sided vehicles and motorcycles, are still advised to avoid the bridge and opt for the Western Ring Route via SH16 and SH18.
Auckland Transport (AT) has replaced double-deckers with single-decker buses for weekend services over the bridge as an extra precaution.
"The Auckland Harbour Bridge is safe for use despite the damage done to the super-structure last Friday. However, it is in a vulnerable state until we complete a permanent repair so we want to do all we can to protect the bridge and the people using it," Walker said. "Safety is our absolute priority."
'Severe weather event' sparks numerous watches, warnings
A significant number of watches and warnings have been issued by MetService ahead of Sunday's wild weather, with a 'severe' storm of heavy rain, gale-force winds and an antarctic blast set to hammer the country. A strong wind watch is currently in place until Sunday night from Northland to north Taranaki, including the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and the central North Island high country.
"Northwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places," the agency says.
Meanwhile in the central North Island, warnings for road snowfall and heavy rain have been issued for Desert Rd (SH1) and Taumarunui and Tongariro National Park respectively.
Three strong wind watches are in place for the east coast of the North Island - spanning Rotorua, Gisborne, the Tararua District and the broader Hawke's Bay region - as well as a heavy rain warning for the eastern Bay of Plenty ranges.
Wellington and the Wairarapa will also be battered by wild winds on Sunday, with gusts potentially reaching 120km/h.
"Strong wind gusts could damage trees, powerlines and unsecured structures. Driving may be hazardous, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles," MetService warns.
The south is also under siege, with road snowfall, strong winds and heavy rain and snow expected across the island.
For a comprehensive list of the severe weather warnings and watches in place, click here.
