A heavy rain warning has just been issued for the Bay of Plenty, with up to 150mm of rain expected to fall this afternoon.
The warning comes as a low and associated fronts over the Tasman Sea move south-eastwards, affecting most of the North Island including Waikato, Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty.
The rain is expected to accumulate later today with localised thundery downpours.
In the Bay of Plenty, in the 18 hours from 9pm tonight to 3pm Wednesday, 100 to 130mm of rain could accumulate, with 150mm expected in the west. Peak intensities of 25 to 40mm an hour are expected tonight and early tomorrow morning.
Metservice warns that rainfall of this intensity could produce flash flooding and cause rivers and streams to rise rapidly. It could also lead to adverse conditions for motorists.
The burst of rain is expected to easy during Wednesday but further rain is expected during Thursday and Friday.