Emergency services have been dealing with fires and power outages in the South Island overnight

A Red Alert Wind Warning has now been lifted for the Canterbury High Country and foothills -- but strong wind warnings remain in place for Marlborough, Wellington, Wairarapa and the Tararua District.

State Highway 77 at Mt Hutt is closed due to fallen trees, and more than a thousand homes in Canterbury are without power.

Fire and Emergency shift manager Brent Dunn says fire crews have had several call-outs, including a lightning fire at Outram's Berwick Forest west of Dunedin.

A helicopter will be returning to the Outram fire at first light.