Bay of Plenty under heavy rain watch as MetService warns of downpours

A heavy rain watch has been issued for Bay of Plenty.

MetService said the watch was in force for 24 hours from 3am Wednesday with periods of heavy rain and localised downpours possible.

Rain has already started falling in the region and would become more persistent this afternoon with possible heavy falls.

MetService meteorologist Dom Barry said multiple fronts were responsible for bringing large bouts of rain.

“We have a front that has stalled around central New Zealand. This is bringing a lot of rain to areas such as Wellington, Kāpiti, Horowhenua and Taranaki.

“We also have a second front moving over the rest of the northern part of the North Island. So Northland all the way down to Taupō, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, will be in rain for a lot of the day,” Barry said.

“It’s going to be a bit tough to find a place that gets no rain.”

He said some thunderstorm activity was expected this evening, into Wednesday for Northland, Northern Auckland and Coromandel.

Rain is forecast to clear Thursday morning in Bay of Plenty before showers return Friday and the weekend.