An aggressive southerly has arrived in Wellington this afternoon with winds gusting over 120km/h and causing the temperature to drop 11 degrees in just over 30 minutes reports WeatherWatch.co.nz.

At its peak, at 4:36pm, winds averaged near 100km/h with gusts to 122km/h.

The temperature fell from 19.9 degrees to 9.0.

There are reports of hail and power outages.

As of 5pm the gale force southerlies continues with gusts over 90km/h. It is still cold, just 9.1 degrees.

On Mt Kaukau where the radio and TV transmitters are winds reached near 150km/h.