After a hectic weekend of strong winds whipping the lower part of North Island, an active front is moving over the South Island bringing gusts that MetService warns could be "damaging".
Many parts of the South Island are under MetService's severe weather warnings and watches as an active front is expected to move north over the South Island during Thursday and Friday, "preceded by gale to severe gale northwesterlies".
"Warnings and watches are now in place for many areas of the South Island for heavy rain and strong wind," MetService's website stated.
MetService has issued Westland south of Otira with a heavy rain warning from 8pm Wednesday to 8pm Friday - 250 to 350mm of rain is expected about the ranges, and 100 to 150mm nearer the coast.
Fiordland is also under a heavy rain warning from 6pm Wednesday to 11pm Thursday, with 150 to 200mm of rain expected, but possibly as much as 250 to 350mm expected north of Doubtful South.
MetService warns heavy rain could cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly, as well as surface flooding and slips.
Multiple regions are under MetService's heavy rain watch. Headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers are under a heavy rain watch from 9pm Wednesday to 6am Friday.
Otago excluding Clutha and the headwaters are under a heavy rain watch from 3pm Wednesday to 12pm Friday.
Southland and Clutha are also under a heavy rain watch from 3am Thursday to 6am Friday. Canterbury Plains and Christchruch including Banks Peninsula are under a strong wind watch from 6pm Wednesday to 10pm Thursday.
But it's the strong wind warning that MetService is keeping an eager eye on, especially after a weekend of strong and damaging winds that lashed lower parts of the North Island.
MetService has issued a strong wind warning from Canterbury High Country from 10am Wednesday to 10am Thursday. MetService warns of several gale northwesterlies with "damaging gusts" of 140km/h in exposed places - especially during Thursday afternoon and evening.
Otago is also under a strong wind warning from 10am Wednesday to 2am Thursday, with severe gale northwesterlies gusting 120km/h in exposed areas.
Fiordland, Southland, including Steward Island too, are under a strong wind warning from 6am Wednesday to 2am Thursday.
"Several gale northerlies gusting 130km/h in exposed places, mainly Fiordland."
MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane told Newshub that compared to the weekend of wind, this week isn't expected to be as strong.
Makgabutlane said MetService is keeping a "very close eye" on the strong wind warnings that are in place, and encourages Kiwis to stay up to date on MetService's website.
