Forecasters are on high alert for severe weather, with northwest gales for parts of the South Island and lower North Island

MetService is forecasting severe northwesterlies gusting 120 kilometres an hour in exposed places today, in Canterbury High Country, and all Otago except Clutha.

Otago will be impacted this morning, and Canterbury's warning applies until 4pm.

A severe weather warning is also in place for Fiordland, where a burst of heavy rain should ease later this morning