Wet weekend ahead

Heavy rain is forecast for the Bay of Plenty this weekend with the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm as a low continues to move over the country.

The MetService issued a severe weather watch for the region on Wednesday, which is still in place today.

A slow-moving low in the west is directing a moist east to northeast flow over the country, bringing rain to many regions in the North Island.

“It will linger across central and northern New Zealand for several days,” says MetService media and communications meteorologist Daniel Corbett.

MetService has issued a number of watches and warnings and will continue to monitor an update these as this system evolves, says Daniel.

An active cold front is expected to bring the risk of some active thunderstorms across the northern half of the North Island this afternoon and again tomorrow afternoon.

Daniel says in addition, a slow moving frontal band will bring further heavy rain across eastern regions of both islands.