NZ Weather Warning: Gale Force Winds Blow Bus Off Road

A bus has been blown off the road by gale force winds in Burkes Pass near Fairlie in the South Island.

Fire and police were called to the bus around 11.10am which had a number of passengers on board.

The bus hadn't tipped over and nobody was injured by the incident, however the bus driver does have minor injuries from a fall.

High winds in the South Island have also blown a motorcyclist off his bike near Dunsandel, on the Canterbury Plains.

Emergency services were called to the scene at 3.10pm and are still there, with paramedics checking the motorcyclist's condition.

Avalanche warnings have been issued for the South Island back country.

Taranaki, Wanganui and Taihape can expect to be lashed by severe northwest gales and gusts as high as 140km/h today and tomorrow.

The MetService warns the ferocious winds could damage trees, powerlines, lift roofs and making driving hazardous.

At the same time heavy rain will lash western parts of the country where warnings have been issued for Fiordland, Westland, the Buller ranges and northwest Nelson and Mt Taranaki.

Full the full weather warnings, read here.