A severe weather watch for strong winds has been issued for the Bay of Plenty as a front moves across the country later this afternoon.

The front will be followed by blustery northwest winds which will sweep across the South Island and move up to the North Island tomorrow.

A weather watch is in place for strong to gale winds.

The MetService expects strong to gale westerlies tomorrow afternoon, then southwest gales overnight Friday into Saturday.

'These gales could become severe, especially Saturday over Auckland and in the lee of the Coromandel and Kaimai Ranges,” says a statement from the weather organisation.

The MetService is also forecasting increasing cloud with evening rain for the Bay later on today.