The Metservice has issued a severe weather watch for Rotorua, the Bay of Plenty and other parts of the North Island.
A front preceded by a moist northwesterly flow is expected to move slowly north over central and northern regions of the North Island today and tomorrow, before moving to the northeast of the country tomorrow night.
This front is expected to bring a period of rain with some heavy falls possible and accumulations may approach warning criteria in some areas.
The watch is for the possibility that rainfall amounts will exceed short term warning criteria, for example 70mm to 85mm in a 12 to 18-hour period, in the following areas: The hills and ranges of the central North Island from Waikato to Taranaki.