Heavy rain is right on the doorstep of Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty which could possibly bring tornadoes or thunderstorms to the region.
A band of heavy rain followed by an active trough set to hit the Western Bay within the next three hours could bring possible tornadoes, hail and thunderstorms but conditions are expected to ease by the evening, said Metservice meteorologist Rob Kerr.
"Across the region, particularly on the coastal areas around [Tauranga] there is a moderate thunderstorm risk in place and that does talk of small tornadoes possible and perhaps hail," Mr Kerr said.
"The whole system is moving pretty quickly which is followed by troughs but you should start seeing patches of blue sky reappear in about two to three hours."
Moderate showers are expected by five or six o'clock this evening and could extend overnight into tomorrow morning.