A storm as being as the size of Australia has struck New Zealand, prompting severe weather warnings across most of the country. The Met Service says, galeforce winds of up to 130 kilometres per hour were lashing some areas, including the capital Wellington, accompanied by heavy rain, lightning and plunging temperatures. Winds of this strength have the potential to lift roofs, topple trees and power lines and make driving conditions hazardous. A privately owned forecaster says the storm in the Southern Ocean is one of the largest currently on the planet, with a size roughly equivalent to Australia. Weather watch analyst Philip Duncan says while the storm's centre is likely to remain about 1,000 kilometres west of New Zealand, the country would experience extreme weather for three to four days.