Gusts reached up to 117kmh as a wild and windy night in Dunedin knocked out power to more than 650 customers and left trees blocking a road.
A police spokeswoman said they received a report in the early hours of this morning trees had fallen across both lanes of Portobello Rd, near Glenfalloch, after gusts of more than 100kmh.
Later in the day Dunedin was basking in warmest temperatures in the country reaching 19.2degC just before 1pm.
Downer contractors, police and a fire crew were deployed and one lane of the road was open by 6am.
A gust of 103.71kmh was recorded at Goat Island in Otago Harbour at 9am today and a Port Otago spokesman said it had been fluctuating around that speed throughout the night.
The MetService said the strongest gust in the region of 117kmh was recorded on Swampy Summit between 3am and 4am.
Meanwhile, police were this morning still searching for a dinghy blown from its moorings and bobbing around in the harbour.
Residents are being urged to keep loose furniture such as trampolines and picnic tables secure because the winds are expected to continue this morning.
An Aurora Energy spokeswoman said about 660 customers in Sawyers Bay and the Waitati Valley lost power about 7.30am due to high winds bringing down a high voltage line.
By 10am, power had been restored to all but three customers, the spokeswoman said.
The New Zealand Transport Agency has urged extra care due to strong winds on State Highway 87 between Mosgiel and Kyeburn, and SH1 from Gore to Oamaru, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.
The strong southwesterly wind was also bringing warm temperatures.
At 9.30am, it had reached 16degC in Dunedin and is expected to reach 18degC this afternoon.
