Heavy rain warning brings risk of hazardous driving conditions

Heavy rain was expected to begin last night, bringing with it the risk of hazardous driving conditions, surface flooding and slips. Photo/George Novak

Grab your umbrella - the drenching forecast to begin last night is expected to continue today, with severe thunderstorms and gales also potentially in the mix.

MetService issued a heavy rain warning for the Bay of Plenty yesterday, anticipating downpours between 9pm last night and 6pm tonight.

Bay of Plenty Civil Defence were monitoring the situation, Emergency Management Bay of Plenty director Clinton Naude said.

Heavy rain could cause rivers and streams to rise rapidly, as well as surface flooding and slips, so it was important people were prepared, he said.

MetService meteorologist Lisa Murray said up to 140mm of rain could accumulate in Tauranga, with possible downpours of more than 25mm an hour.

"You will get some heavy rain. We're looking at poor visibility when driving and possible surface flooding, maybe small landslides."

People in coastal areas were at risk of isolated downpours as a result of thunderstorms.

"You've got all the ingredients for thunderstorms, you just need a decent spark to ignite it," she said.

"The thing about thunderstorms is we don't know exactly where they will bubble up."

Heavier rain is expected for the eastern ranges, with accumulations up to 250mm and downpour intensities of 40mm in an hour, Ms Murray said.

That could be followed by very strong south to southeasterly winds in exposed areas this afternoon and tomorrow morning.

She recommended people keep an eye on the forecasts and rain radars as the situation developed.

The rain was coming from the northwest of the South Island in a broad, slow-moving front expected to move east across the North Island over Thursday night and during Friday.

The path of a low containing the remnants of Cyclone Donna was uncertain yesterday, but it may pass near the east of the North Island during Friday or early Saturday as it tracks south, bringing more heavy rain and strong winds.

Mr Naude said people needed to take responsibility for their preparedness and make a plan.

"Think about what you and your family would you do if you couldn't get home, were stuck at home or had to leave home in a hurry? Would you be ready?

"What if there was no power, no water or no communication? If there is heavy rain coming, have you cleared your gutters or thought about your pets? A little bit of planning goes a long way," he said.