Winds gusting up to 120km/h ripped through the Bay of Plenty this morning, bringing down trees on State Highway 29.

The NZ Transport Agency reports one lane of the highway, at the intersection of Old Kaimai Road and Hanga Road, has now reopened.

It was a windy start to the week, but the MetService is predicting a calmer outloook ahead.

The highway was blocked for about an hour-and-a-half after the tree fell at around 1.48am. Two lanes were cleared at 3.36am today.

People are being advised to take extra care until the trees are completely removed.

MetService meteorologist John Law says it was a blustery and windy morning, with radar reporting 31 knots or 57 km/h at the airport.

He says; 'Further inland where the radar is on the Mamaku Range, we had gust around 65 knots which is around 120km/h. That's in the most exposed spots.

'In spots down towards Whakatane and Rotorua, we're looking at around 50 knots. It was a blustery, windy day and it's not really what you want to see, but today is looking better.”

John adds the wind will be changing to the southwest allowing for greater protection in the Bay of Plenty.

'Today a few showers will clear and make way for a nice day tomorrow,” he explains.

The wet and windy start to the week was thanks to an area of low pressure barrelling across the country from the Tasman Sea.

The low was accompanied by a period of strong north-westerly winds, with severe gales over the northern half of the North Island.

John says the watch issued for the Bay of Plenty has been lifted as the weather eases.