Rotorua's expected to avoid the brunt of former Cyclone Gita today .
She's due to reach the lower North Island and upper South Island by midday .
Rotorua Lakes Council said, "she will impact most of the country to some degree".
The latest MetService forecasts today show a series of troughs on their way to Rotorua, from former Cyclone Gita.
Metrologist Ciaran Doolin said the city would experience "periods of rain as a result, which will be most persistent this evening".
He said the rain was unlikely to be heavy, the main weather risk was the wind.
Rotorua is included in a Severe Weather Watch for strong northerlies, which will possibly rise to severe gales in exposed places between 7pm and the early hours of tomorrow morning.
"The wind and rain should gradually clear from there for a fine day on Wednesday."
Bay of Plenty Civil Defence emergency management group duty manager Meagan Edhouse said they were keeping a close eye on the situation.
"We are on the edge of the weather system.
"As always in these situations, if our southern counterparts need extra hands, they'll ask through the usual channels and we'll head down and help out."
Rotorua Lakes Council said in a statement on its website it was "on watch for heavy rain which could cause slips, rising waters and flooding.
"Rotorua may also be in for some strong winds this afternoon and evening," the statement said.