Strong winds that bashed the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel overnight are forecast to continue today.

The MetService has issued a severe weather warning for both regions with the possibility of westerly winds rising to severe gale strength for most of Saturday morning.

File Photo.

The westerly gales have been blamed on a low moving southeastwards across central New Zealand overnight. In exposed places, the westerly gales were predicted to reach speeds of 90km/h.

In the Bay of Plenty, the MetService forecasts scattered showers which should gradually clear by the afternoon, with the weather becoming fine.

While on the Coromandel, cloudy periods and a few showers are predicted to clear by the evening.

The MetService is advising people to keep up to date with the latest forecasts, in case parts of this watch need to be upgraded to a full warning.