UPDATE: MetService have issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the western Bay of Plenty region.
An area of rain with slow-moving embedded thunderstorms is expected affect the western Bay of Plenty and Coromandel Peninsula this afternoon and early evening, said a statement from MetService.
Between 3pm and 7pm today, slow-moving thunderstorms may produce downpours of 25-40mm per hour about a few parts of the western Bay area and Tauranga west.
MetService warn rainfall of this intensity can cause flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips.
Driving conditions will be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain.