Bay of Plenty weather: Heavy wind and rain to ease

The sun is starting to poke through the clouds after over 24 hours of the region being battered by wild weather.

Metservice meteorologist Angus Heins said the heavy rain watch had lifted as the rain had eased throughout the day.

"It looks like it is going to stay pretty cloudy and perhaps a little wet for most of the rest of the day.

"I see there are a few hints of sun peeking through here and there, but still mostly cloudy when you look at the broader Bay of Plenty."

The heavy rain had now moved further east toward Gisborne, Heins said.

"Over the next 24 hours and the next couple of days, the weather is just going to improve. It's going to essentially fine up for tomorrow, but there will still be some decent southerly winds around.

"By Thursday it should be fine overhead and that wind would have significantly eased away as well."

EARLIER:

Another wet and windy day is on the cards for Bay of Plenty, with a risk of surface flooding in some areas.

A subtropical low continues to move southwards over the upper North Island,accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds.

A Rotorua Lakes Council spokeswoman said there had been a report of a tree down on Hamurana Rd last night.

"This was cleared by contractors and they'll be back onsite this morning to do some more tidying up with a digger," she said.

A Tauranga City Council spokeswoman said there had been one report of flooding, on Maleme St outside the transfer station, at 6.20am.

"Our contractor Downer dealt with that in half an hour. No further issues reported," she said.

MetService has issued a fresh heavy rain warning for Bay of Plenty, west of Whakatāne between 9am and 1pm today.

A strong wind watch is now in place for Bay of Plenty, east of Whakatāne and Taupō.

A statement from MetService said heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous.

Meanwhile, a heavy rain warning for Coromandel Peninsula has been lifted as rain has eased. While a brief burst of rain was forecast overnight, it was not expected to meet warning criteria.

The forecast for Rotorua today is for rain, heavy at times, easing this afternoon and clearing in the evening. There are northerly winds, turning strong southerly in the morning. The predicted high is 20C and the low 14C.

In Tauranga, there will also be rain, heavy at times, easing this afternoon and clearing in the evening. There are northerlies forecasted, turning strong southerly in the morning.

The predicted high for Tauranga is 24C and the low 17C.