Weather alert: Heavy rain to continue in Bay of Plenty

A heavy rain and strong wind watch remains in place for Bay of Plenty today.

MetService says there is a heavy rain watch in Bay of Plenty west of Kawerau and on the Coromandel Peninsula from 6am to 9pm today.

The forecast in those areas includes periods of heavy rain and rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria.

There is also a strong win watch in Bay of Plenty, east of Whakatāne from 7pm today to 1am Thursday. The forecast is for east to southeast winds tending south to southwest late in the evening. Wind may approach severe gale at times.

MetService says Rotorua will have early showers then rain developing in the morning, possibly heavy rain from afternoon. There will be strong northeasterlies, changing southwest in the evening.

RainWatch – Mainly wet today, the only dry weather is about eastern Canterbury https://t.co/awbbMSysJ2 via @weatherwatchnz

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) August 18, 2020

Tauranga is expected to have rain in the morning, possibly heavy, as well as strong northeasterlies, changing southwest in the evening.

Heavy rain warnings have been issued for Northland, the northwest ranges of Nelson and the ranges of Westland.

In Northland, the alert is in place until at least 3pm. People in the area are being told to expect between 50mm to 70mm of rain to accumulate - especially about the eastern hills.

MetService said peak intensities would be between 10mm to 15mm per hour this morning.

"Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are possible and driving conditions may be hazardous," a spokesman said.

There was also a strong wind watch in Northland in the early hours of this morning - with winds turning into severe gales at times.