Heavy rain is expected to bombard the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel today.

A severe weather watch is in place for the Bay and a severe weather warning has been issued for the Coromandel.

More heavy rain is being forecast for the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel.

The MetService says a moist easterly flow is expected to continue over the North Island until Friday, with rain likely to continue in the northeast from the Coromandel Peninsula to Hawke's Bay.

'This rain could be significant, especially in areas where ground conditions are already saturated.

'The largest accumulations are expected to be in Gisborne (north of the City) and about the Coromandel Peninsula, where a warning is now in force.”

In the Bay of Plenty west of Te Puke, periods of heavy rain from Wednesday evening through to Thursday evening.

For the Coromandel Peninsula, heavy rain is likely to be of a short duration, but 70 to 90mm could accumulate in some places Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Moist east to northeast flow continues to bring rain or showers to much of the North Island today https://t.co/hnwmGxU1gR ^PL pic.twitter.com/hhezsZhjwv

— MetService (@MetService) September 27, 2016