More heavy rain forecast for Bay of Plenty

11.30am

The flood-ravaged Eastern Bay of Plenty is bracing itself for another soaking with a heavy rain warning for the region.

After a week of frosty mornings and sunny weather, the MetService issued a warning yesterday for rainfall of up to 120mm in the Eastern Bay of Plenty ranges.

It comes a day after the Government announced the amount of money it was putting into rebuilding the area after last month's floods would be raised to $30 million.

Ministers have approved an additional package of measures including agricultural recovery, repairing schools, fixing roads and helping low income earners and evacuees.

MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt said a low pressure system deepened rapidly over the Tasman Sea on Tuesday. Rain from the front is expected to stall over the Bay of Plenty today.

The flooded Eastern Bay of Plenty survived a heavy rain warning last Thursday when less rain than predicted fell.

However, Mr McDavitt said because today's forecast front was likely to hover over the region it is expected to deliver more rain than last week's front. The heaviest falls are expected near the eastern ranges, producing a peak in run-off late in the day.

However, it is not expected to be as severe as the weather pattern that produced last month's floods.

"This system looks like it will behave normally, and thus it will not be a repeat of the mid-July event," Mr McDavitt said. The Bay of Plenty forecast is for showers clearing tomorrow, then a generally dry weekend.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)

MetService warning