A severe weather warning has been announced for the Bay of Plenty with a huge amount of rain expected to fall overnight.
Metservice issued a severe weather warning for the Bay area later tonight and early tomorrow morning.
Between 100mm to 150mm of rain is expected to fall, mainly about the ranges, with peak intensities of 20 to 40mm per hour in possible thundery downpours.
A northerly rainband with embedded thunderstorms or intense localised downpours is expected to move into western Bay of Plenty late afternoon or early this evening , then move slowly eastwards to lie near East Cape tomorrow morning.
Metservice warned heavy rain could cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous.