A quick update on the situation with Cyclone Gabrielle.

It's been downgraded from Tropical, but don't let that fool you.

The worst is still yet to come.

Unfortunately, hundreds of homes in the Far North have already lost power due to high winds and rain.

And it's not just the Far North that's affected, the entire North Island is under severe weather warnings.

MetService says Hibiscus Coast can expect 150 to 200 mm of rain, but 200 to 250 mm of rain from the Whangaparaoa Peninsula northwards, with the heaviest rain likely on Monday

And the rain isn't the only thing to worry about, the winds are expected to cause widespread damage, especially to trees, power lines, and even roofs.

This could impact transport and power networks, so be prepared for road closures and outages.

Conditions will be hazardous for motorists and there's a danger of flying debris and falling trees or branches.

Just one more thing, if you're driving on the Harbour Bridge, be extra careful. There are reduced speed limits in place due to strong wind gusts, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.