Parts of Canterbury are being pummelled by gale-force winds, with power out to thousands of homes

Lines company Alpine Energy says there's no electricity in Arundel, Geraldine, Peel Forest, and Four Peaks.

Power is also out in mid-Canterbury at Glenroy, Hororata, Lake Coleridge, Rakaia Gorge, and Windwhistle.

Alpine Energy says it's likely to be early tomorrow evening before power is fully-restored to everyone.

Severe gale-force northwesterly winds come after earlier gales cut power, caused wildfires, and brought down trees in the same area overnight on Thursday and into Friday.