Severe weather watch issued

160314bf16 wet weather 16 March 2014 Rotorua Daily Post Photograph by Ben Fraser

MetService has issued a severe weather watch for Rotorua and the wider Bay of Plenty.

A deep low lying west of the North Island is expected to move over the South Island early Wednesday. Associated fronts are expected to move across central and southern New Zealand today.

These fronts are preceded by strong to gale easterly winds, with outbreaks of heavy rain expected about central parts of the North Island.

Heavy rain about the Kaimai Range, Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane, and Waikato is expected to ease early this afternoon (Tuesday), although a further 90mm is still likely about the Kaimai Range and western Bay of Plenty this morning.

MetService advises people to keep to date with the latest forecasts, in case any part of this Watch is upgraded to a warning.