Rainfall of up to 30mm an hour is expected to drench the Bay of Plenty as the region braces for severe weather.
MetService has issued a heavy rain warning for the area.
People were warned of rapidly rising rivers and surface flooding as 80 to 120mm of rain was expected to accumulate, especially in the ranges.
Meteorologist Tahlia Crabtree said the worst of the rain was expected to land tomorrow morning but the low-pressure system responsible was already on the move, approaching the region.