Heavy rain easing today, turning to sun this weekend

It was a wet one in Tauranga yesterday and this won't change until Sunday. Photo/Andrew Warner

It has been a rainy few days in the Bay and the weather is not likely to change until Sunday.

A severe weather watch was issued for the Bay of Plenty yesterday for the possibility heavy rain could reach warning levels from yesterday evening through to early this morning.

It was possible rainfall accumulations could last night exceed the short duration warning amounts of 50mm in six hours or 70mm in 12 hours.

The Metservice predicted 32.8mm of rain would fall in Tauranga between 6pm last night and 10am today.

Metservice meteorologist Claire Flynn said the heaviest rain should be over today, although it would continue to rain on and off throughout the day.

The rain was forecast to ease on Saturday, with showers throughout the day becoming "far and few between".

Sunday was expected to be sunny.

Miss Flynn said today's temperature would reach 18C, tomorrow would be 15C and Sunday 16C.

"At the moment, we've got a northerly flow coming in which brings in the rain. It makes it a little warmer, once that goes, it becomes a little cooler.

"[Today] the wind will be northwesterly, strong and gusty. When the rain starts to clear, it will be west to southwest."

Weekend weather

Friday: 18C, rain

Saturday: 15C, showers clearing

Sunday: 16C, fine