A southerly storm pounding Wellington has caused power outages and forced Police to close Marine Drive in Lower Hutt.

The wind has been whipping up waves that have been crashing over the road and leaving behind logs and debris on the road surface.

For anyone heading towards Eastbourne, access to Marine Drive is now closed from Point Howard.

Some 600 people have already lost their electricity because of the storm.

Wellingtonians have taken to Twitter to describe the city being pounded by a good southerly, houses being shaken, sideways rain and rattling windows.

100km wind broke my back lounge door! Thank you mother nature! @MetService @MetServiceWARN #WellingtonWeather pic.twitter.com/elkYd0YwoQ

— Tracey (@Gluestiiick) April 30, 2017

MetService says a strong, cold southerly flow is moving north, bringing strong to gale-force south to southwest winds to the region.