Press Release – NZ Transport AgencyMetService has strong wind watches in place for parts of the South Island today with northwesterly winds potentially approaching severe gale in exposed places in the Canterbury high country. MetService has strong wind watches in place for parts of the South Island today with northwesterly winds potentially approaching severe gale in exposed places in the Canterbury high country. These warmer ‘Foehn’ winds are expected to push temperatures up to a comfortable 16 deg C in Christchurch today. Christchurch, Banks Peninsula, and the Canterbury Plains about and east of Lincoln, may get southwesterly winds approaching severe gale in exposed places tomorrow night. With snow also forecast for State Highway 94 near Milford Sound tonight, the highway is due to close at 5pm from the Lower Hollyford Road turnoff to The Chasm.