MetService has issued a severe weather warning for Hawke's Bay south of Hastings on Friday afternoon.
The front lying over Westland and Canterbury is forecast to move north and cross the lower North Island during the afternoon.
It's preceded by strong north-west winds with severe gales from Marlborough up to the Tararua district.
West-to-north-west gales are also expected over Hawke's Bay with possible severe gusts, especially about the Takapau Plains and the eastern slopes of the Ruahine Range.
