A front of wild weather has hit the country causing slips, downing trees and closing some roads.

Warnings for severe gales and heavy rain are in place for much of the country with places exposed to the north and east the most vulnerable.

Waka Kotahi has asked motorists to be prepared for possible closures of the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Niwa warns a month's worth of rain may fall in parts of the North Island and northern and eastern South Island as the storm sweeps in.

The Pacific Coast Highway between Wharekaho and Kūaotunu in Coromandel, part of State Highway 25, is closed because of a large slip, and the whole peninsula is subject to a heavy rain warning.

Trees falling in high winds temporarily closed a portion of SH26 east of Morrinsville. Further south, a downed tree has reduced SH5 to one lane near Tāpapa.

Temporary closures of Auckland Harbour Bridge were possible up to 9am if there were severe winds gusts over 90km/h, Waka Kotahi said. Motorists could use SH16 and SH18 as an alternative route.

In the South Island, low overhanging trees and snow have closed SH6 just north of Makarora; there is no detour, so access to and from the West Coast from the south is cut for now.

-RNZ.