The year will wind down with a lot more rain and it'll be a wet start to the New Year.
The MetService has issued a severe weather warning for the Bay of Plenty, including Rotorua, with a tropical low moving slowly over the North Island during the next few days. The low is forecast to direct a warm, very humid northeast flow over northern and central New Zealand, bringing rain to many areas.
MetService duty forecaster Ian Gall said the forecast was for the rain to be heavy at times with humid northeasterly winds but there would be less rain on New Year's Day. "There will be periods of rain, heavy at times but easing to showers. There will be northerly winds turning to southerly." The low would weaken and cross New Zealand late Sunday or early Monday.
Meanwhile, the low would bring heavy falls to parts of the Bay of Plenty area.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council duty flood manager Bruce Crabbe warned campers in the Eastern Bay of Plenty to move to higher ground, as forecast heavy rainfall could cause flooding. "We have been advised by the MetService that as much as 200mm could fall in the coastal hills and ranges in the next few days, which could have serious consequences for our river and stream systems," Mr Crabbe said. "We urge visitors that are camping along riverbanks and streams to move to higher ground now."