Periods of heavy rain are expected in the Bay today as a severe weather warning remains in place.

The MetService issued a warning for the region yesterday ahead of a dumping of rain which caused surface flooding in the area.

Heavy rain is expected in the Bay of Plenty today. Image: MetService.

More rain is expected today as a complex trough moves eastwards across New Zealand.

The MetService is expecting the trough to bring bands of heavy rain and squally thunderstorms affecting central and northern New Zealand.

'The largest rainfall accumulations are likely to be about Buller, where a further 30 to 40mm could until around midday, Mt Taranaki and the Tararua Range, where a further 60 to 80mm could fall on top of what has already fallen until around 6pm, and the ranges of eastern Bay of Plenty where 80 to 100mm of rain could fall until around 9pm,” says a statement from the weather organisation.

'People, especially trampers, are advised that this amount of rain could cause rivers and streams to rise rapidly, with surface flooding and slips possible.”

Moist westerly wind about the North Island, some (heavy) showers from Auckland to Welly https://t.co/d2ipJMFlYI pic.twitter.com/Ptaztc4Tsu

— Chester Lampkin (@chesterlampkin) May 24, 2016