As the weekend approaches almost every corner of the North Island is covered by MetService's strong wind watches with heavy rain expected in some regions too.
As a deep low currently lies west of the North Island, MetService's website says an associated front is expected to move southward across the North Island, which it warns will bring heavy rain and northeasterly gales in some regions.
MetService says Saturday will see the low move east across the lower North Island, with west to northwest gales on its northern flank.
MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgaputlane told Newshub the gusts could reach MetService's warning criteria.
"We're looking at the possibility of winds, especially in more exposed areas, reaching speeds around 110kms per hour. That is the maximum of the gusts that are expected."
Makgaputlane said a combination of strong winds and strong onshore flow on top of a "very deep low-pressure system" could see "very large" waves at high tide along the western coastline of the North Island.
The meteorologist encouraged Kiwis to "tie down" any loose items, "especially those trampolines that tend to go flying".
Weather warnings and watches:
Bay of Plenty and eastern Waikato are under a strong wind watch from 8am Friday to 3pm Friday.
Western, Central Waikato and Waitomo are under a strong wind watch too from 12pm Saturday to 3am Sunday.
The strong wind watch for Gisborne from Tolaga Bay northwards comes into effect from 8am Friday and ends 7pm Friday.
Taumarunui, Taupō, Taihape, Whanganui, Manawatu and Hawke's Bay is under a strong wind watch from 6pm Saturday to 9am Sunday.
A strong wind watch comes into effect in Taranaki from 8pm Friday to 9pm Saturday.
Northland's strong wind watch comes into effect from 3pm Friday and lasts until 9am Saturday.
Auckland including Great Barrier Island is under a strong wind watch too from 9am Saturday to 9pm Saturday.
Heavy rain is expected too, Gisborne north of Tolaga Bay is under a heavy rain warning from 8am Friday to 6pm Friday.
Tasman west of Motueka is under a heavy rain warning from 8am Friday to 3pm Saturday.
Bay of Plenty is under a heavy rain watch from 8am Friday to 3pm Friday.
Mount Taranaki is under a heavy rain watch too from 8am Friday to 9pm Saturday.
