Heavy rain forecast for BOP, North Island

Photo / file

Heavy rain is forecast for parts of the Bay of Plenty and central North Island today with up to 130mm possible in some areas in the next 24 hours.

The MetService has issued a severe weather warning for the Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupo and Taihape.

A warm front over eastern Bay of Plenty is slowly moving westward, while a cold front over the Tasman Sea is moving towards the country.

"These features are expected to focus heavy rain onto the Bay of Plenty, Taupo and central North Island area during today and early Thursday," forecaster Allister Gorman said.

Although the initial burst of rainfall this morning is not expected to be as heavy as MetService previously forecast, up to 130mm of rain could fall in the Bay of Plenty ranges by mid Thursday morning. In the ranges of Taupo and the Tongariro National Park, around 90 to 110mm is possible.

The rain should be heaviest this evening or early Thursday morning, MetService said.

- NZ Herald staff