A severe weather watch is in place for the Bay of Plenty with heavy rain set to pound down on the region overnight.
Metservice forecaster Gerard Barrow said a low was expected to move southeast across the Bay of Plenty tonight and tomorrow bringing heavy rain, squally conditions and possible thunderstorms. Rain and strengthening northerlies were expected to spread over northern parts of the North Island today, with some heavy falls tonight and early tomorrow morning.
The weather watch could be upgraded to a warning mid-morning today, Mr Barrow said.
"For the Bay of Plenty area you're very likely to have rain Saturday evening and Sunday morning and people should be aware that there could be times of heavy rain.
"During Saturday you'll see a lot of mid-range higher cloud increasing over the Bay of Plenty and as that cloud increases, it will increase the likelihood of rain. It will be patchy then develop later in the morning and could be fairly heavy during the course of the evening." Temperatures are expected to remain mild with a maximum of 18C today and an overnight low of 8C tonight.
Tomorrow night will be a slightly warmer 12C.
"There is a flow coming from the north and it will be a bit milder where it's not warm, but not cold but will be humid," Mr Barrow said.
Mr Barrow advised people to keep up to date with the weather forecast.
Monday's forecast is for long sunny spells and strong westerly winds, with an expected high of 17C.