UPDATED 3.15pm: One person is dead after their motorcycle collided with a truck in Taranaki this morning.

The accident happened approximately two kilometers north of the Awakino Gorge Tunnel on State Highway three just before 1pm.

The weather in the area has deteriorated with heavy rain and wind and police are reminding motorists to drive to the conditions.

State Highway 3 through the area is currently blocked and is expected to be so for some times.

Police are asking motorists to be patient or delay their travel through the area.

They warn the incident could add up to five hours to journeys on the route.

Motorists who urgently need to travel southbound towards New Plymouth are advised to divert onto State Highway 4 through Taumarunui to Raetahi and then onto Whanganui while people travelling north can go the opposite way.

The serious crash unit is investigating and further details will not be released until the victim's family has been notified.