Heavy rain for Rotorua

Heavy rain is on the way for Rotorua. Photo/Stephen Parker

A heavy rain watch is in force for the Bay of Plenty, including Rotorua.

MetService issued the watch this morning, warning of the possibility that rainfall accumulation could reach warning criteria in a short duration of time.

Periods of heavy rain were expected from this morning through to midnight, especially this afternoon and evening with a possibilty of thunderstorms.

The heavy rain is a result of a complex trough moving east across the country , bring the rain to the north and west of both islands in a moist north to northeast flow.