A wind warning is now in place across the entire South after the threat level was upgraded in parts this morning. The MetService yesterday issued a warning for severe northwest gales which were expected to gust to 130km/h in exposed places around Fiordland (south of Doubtful Sound), Southland, Stewart Island and Clutha, from 4pm today until 5am tomorrow. Further north, winds were expected to gust to 140km/h in exposed places in the Canterbury high country, from 9pm tonight until 9am tomorrow. The MetService says severe northwest gales could gust to 120km/h from 6pm today until 7am tomorrow in Southern Lakes, Central Otago, North Otago and Dunedin. Firefighters warned that severe gales also increased the danger of fires.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 29, 2020 22:30 UTC