There's hope relief's on the way for wind-swept Aucklanders

Gale force winds early this morning have brought down trees and powerlines around the region, and some roofs have been ripped off.

Electricity crews are working hard to restore power in many parts of the city, including Albany where two high voltage lines have come down, closing Clemows Lane and Jack Hinton Drive.

Firefighters tackled about 80 weather-related calls between three and six-am.

One tree fell on a car and destroyed it in Mount Roskill.

MetService Meteorologist Alwyn Bakker says a strong wind watch is ending at two-pm but will be updated about 10am.

He says experts will decide if new model updates have changed anything.

Herald Business online editor Damien Venuto heard a huge bang at his Glen Eden home about three-am.

He says a large branch had fallen on his deck, and they were lucky it didn't smash through the roof or break any windows.

Venuto says his imagination got the better of him at first, and he thought a spaceship had landed in their backyard.

He says it sounded like a giant thud, ten times as loud as something large falling on a wooden floor.