UPDATE 12PM: Trees and power lines are down in the Western Bay of Plenty today as gales and heavy rain hits the region.

Powerco is currently reporting outages in Greerton, Welcome Bay, Ohauiti, Oropi, Hairini, Papamoa, Te Puke, Maketu, Pongakawa, Pukehina and in the western area in Omokoroa, Katikati, Aongatete and Whakamarama.

Powerlines are down on State Highway 29 in the Lower Kaimai area near Poripori Road.

Powerlines down on State Highway 29.

Wild weather is lashing Tauranga City today.

Containers tumble at the Port of Tauranga. Photo: Supplied.

Firefighters are on site and traffic is being diverted around the lines.

Western Bay of Plenty highway patrol Sergeant Mike Owen says a tree has come down in Te Puna taking out a lamp post near Clarke Road,

'There is also a tree down on State Highway 2, near Te Puke and trees and powerlines down on State Highway 29, near Poripori Road.

'There are no road closures at this stage, but some are partially blocked.”

Mike asks people to avoid travelling in this weather until it improves.

He says there has only been one nose to tail crash at the intersection of Cameron Road and 15th Ave.

'People need to take extreme care.”

Power outages:

Firefighters in Omokoroa are dealing with downed powerlines while firefighters in Pukehina are removing a branch that has come down at Pukehina Beach Road.

Power went out in Omokoroa at 9.37am and is due to be restored about 2pm today.

In Papamoa and Te Puke power went out at 11.15am and is due to be restored about 4pm. There are also reports of power out in Oropi also.

All are reporting power out due to severe weather. To read more about full outages click here.

Oropi Primary School is encouraging parents to pick up their children this morning following a power outage in the area.

A post on the school's Facebook page says 'due to the power outage we encourage parents to pick up their children early”.

UPDATE 10AM:

Strong winds hitting Tauranga this morning are causing power outages and bringing down trees in the region.

Powerco is reporting power is out in Katikati, Aongatete and Tahawai and is expected to be back on about 11am.

Firefighters and council workers are also being called to attend to trees down in Papamoa and Welcome Bay.

The Papamoa Volunteer Fire Brigade were also called to Papamoa Primary School to secure a shade sail, which had become loose in the wind.

Heavy rain and strong winds are lashing the Bay of Plenty today as a subtropical low moves across the North Island.

The MetService has issued a severe weather warning for the area with wind gusts expected to reach about 110km/h.

Power outages are affecting the following areas:

Greerton-Welcome Bay:

APEX WAY, ASPIRING PLACE, BOSCABEL DRIVE, EGMONT STREET, GRENADA STREET, KAIMAI VIEW DRIVE, KAITEMAKO ROAD, KAITEMAKO ROAD SOUTH, LOCHINVAR PLACE, MARIRE DRIVE, MCFETRIDGE LANE, MCPHAILS ROAD, NEEWOOD ROAD, OHAUITI ROAD, ORCHID PLACE, POIKE ROAD, REVELL DRIVE, ROBINIA PLACE, ROWES ROAD, ROWESDALE DRIVE, RUAHINE STREET, SEFTON STREET, SMYLIE CLOSE, SNOWDEN STREET, SUMMERHAVEN PLACE, TARANUI PLACE, TARAWERA STREET, TAUTARA PLACE, TAYLOR STREET, TUPELO PLACE, TUSCANY PLACE, ZAPOTE PLACE

Paengaroa:

MAKETU, OTAMARAKAU VALLEY, PAENGAROA, PONGAKAWA, PONGAKAWA VALLEY, PUKEHINA, PUKEHINA BEACH

Pongakawa:

BENNERS ROAD, BILLINGS ROAD, BUSH ROAD, HEREFORD PARK ROAD, JENSENS ROAD, JOHNSONS ROAD, KAIKOKOPU ROAD, MANIATUTU ROAD, OLD COACH ROAD, OTAMARAKAU VALLEY ROAD, PONGAKAWA STN ROAD, PUKEHANGI ROAD, PUKEHINA STATION ROAD, ROTOEHU ROAD, SCHOOL ROAD, STOCKTON ROAD

Katikati:

AON02: BAHAMAS KEY, BAKER ROAD, CHARD ROAD, CONNELLY LANE, HENRYS ROAD, HOT SPRINGS ROAD, JEAN BATTEN DRIVE, KILLEN ROAD, LOCKINGTONS ROAD, LUNDS ROAD, MATAHUI ROAD, REA ROAD, STATE HIGHWAY 2, TAUPO AVENUE, TETLEY ROAD, THOMAS ROAD, THOMPSONS TRACK, THORNTON ROAD, WALKER ROAD EAST, WALKER ROAD WEST, WHAKAMARAMA ROAD, WHARAWHARA ROAD