UPDATED: The warning for heavy rain in the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty has now been downgraded to a severe weather watch.

A severe weather warning remains in place for Gisborne as a trough moves easterly over the region.

McLaren Falls yesterday morning after a dumping of rain. Photos: Alice Campbell.

"Rain with heavy falls is expected in Gisborne today and Tuesday morning, where 80 to 120mm of rain is expected in the hills and ranges, particulary north of Tologa Bay," says a statement from the MetService.

"This rain is expected to cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly and may cause slips and surface flooding.

"The warning for heavy rain in Coromandel Peninsula and the far west of Bay of Plenty is now downgraded to a heavy rain watch for the remainder of today and tomorrow morning."

While roads in the Bay appear to be open, the Thames Coromandel District Council is reporting State Highway 25, south of Tairua at the intersection with Hikuai Settlement Road, is closed due to flooding.

Traffic management is in place due to slips at SH25 from Tairua to Whangamata.

District roads:

Hikuai Settlement Rd - closed due to flooding.

Port Jackson Rd, Ohinewai ford - closed.

Wharekara River bridge on SH25 at Opoutere is down to one lane because of high river levels. Contractor on site monitoring.

SH25 Kuaotunu West - 3 large slips on road. Contractors are clearing.

Tapu-Coroglen Rd - Open, but slips reported.

309 RD - Open. Was closed earlier due to tree down.

Kennedy Bay Rd - Open. Closed earlier due to slip.

SH25 10km north of Whangamata down to one lane due to a slip. (This was reported overnight)

Earlier:

A severe weather warning remains in place for the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel as more heavy rain is expected to pelt the region this morning.

A trough is moving slowly southwards over the upper North Island preceded by easterly winds and a band of rain.

'Heavy rain about Coromandel Peninsula and the western Bay of Plenty was expected to spread southwards to the Gisborne region Sunday night, and although it should ease in the north around dawn Monday, it will likely continue into Tuesday morning about Gisborne,” says a statement from the MetService.

'For Coromandel Peninsula and the western Bay of Plenty another 70mm of rain may accumulate on top of what has already fallen, while 160mm may accumulate about the hills and ranges of Gisborne, particularly north of Tologa Bay,” according to the warning issued at 8.30pm last night.

The heavy rain is expected to cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly and may cause slips and surface flooding.

Periods of heavy rain are expected to continue in the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel this morning. Image: MetService.

While roads in the Bay appear to be open, the Thames Coromandel District Council is reporting State Highway 25, south of Tairua at the intersection with Hikuai Settlement Road, is closed due to flooding.

Traffic management is in place due to slips at SH25 from Tairua to Whangamata.

'The heavy rain is expected to continue until later this morning, potentially bringing another 100mm of rain on top of what's already fallen on Sunday morning,” says a statement from the council.

Rainfall totals thru to 9am Tues. Warnings in force 4 Coromandel Peninsula, western Bay of Plenty & Gisborne. https://t.co/Sd5C6lrsSL ^CF pic.twitter.com/ks8Vkk2vZc

— MetService (@MetService) September 25, 2016

'The message from Civil Defence is watch for rapidly rising waters, avoid waterways and if travelling take extreme care as there is debris on roads from lots of minor slips. Delay travel plans until later on today to reduce risks.”

District roads:

Hikuai Settlement Rd - closed due to flooding.

Port Jackson Rd, Ohinewai ford - closed.

Wharekara River bridge on SH25 at Opoutere is down to one lane because of high river levels. Contractor on site monitoring.

SH25 Kuaotunu West - 3 large slips on road. Contractors are clearing.

Tapu-Coroglen Rd - Open, but slips reported.

309 RD - Open. Was closed earlier due to tree down.

Kennedy Bay Rd - Open. Closed earlier due to slip.

SH25 10km north of Whangamata down to one lane due to a slip. (This was reported overnight)

Water supplies:

Hikutaia and Omahu Valley Rd should be receiving water by later this morning, some supply from Puriri being diverted but this will take time to come through. Puriri will experience low water pressure while some supplies are diverted. A valve is blocked and cannot be reached because of high river levels.

Matatoki now has no water. Crews can't reach the water intake to investigate the problem because a bridge is flooded. No ETA on resolution but we are chasing up with our contractors.