MetService is advising Stewart Island residents to batten down the hatches in preparation for a storm, bringing winds over 120kmh this afternoon. A cold front, preceded by a very strong northwest flow, is expected to move northwards over Stewart Island early this afternoon with a period of rain andsqually thunderstorms. Warning amounts of rain are forecast for Fiordland today, and severe gales gusting to 110kmh are expected in exposed parts of Otago and Southland. There was also a risk of severe gales in exposed parts of inland Otago and Southland tomorrow, he said. Severe gales have a mean wind speed reaching 90kmh, and may have frequent gusts exceeding 100kmh.

Source: Otago Daily Times May 13, 2019 16:34 UTC