Heavy rain for east coast

Bursts of heavy rain are set to batter the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and the northern ranges of Gisborne today.

MetService has issued a severe weather warning saying up to 60ml of rain could fall in the space of six hours.

Forecaster Erick Brenstrum said the ranges of the Bay of Plenty and areas north of Ruatoria could get 20mm in an hour.

He said the ranges of Nelson will also get heavy rain of up to 60ml between 11am and 6pm today.

- NZHERALD STAFF