Western Bay of Plenty residents are being warned to prepare for another lashing of heavy rain with predictions of rain could reach warning amounts on Sunday.

Rain could also reach warning amounts in the Coromandel.

More rain is on the cards for the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel this weekend despite the sun shining now.

The MetService says a low pressure system is expected to move eastwards over the far north of New Zealand during Sunday, bringing a period of rain to northern and eastern areas of the North Island and strong or gale easterly winds turning southeast with the passage of the low.

For the South Island, a moist south to southeast flow is likely to be affecting eastern areas at the start of Sunday, bringing a moderate probability of significant amounts of heavy rain to eastern areas of Otago, and with the potential for heavy snowfalls above 500 metres.

'Late Sunday, a very cold and showery southerly flow moves onto the lower South Island, which then spreads over the country during Monday,” says a statement from the weather organisation.

'The southerlies are likely to be gale about southern and eastern areas of both islands.”

Snow to low levels are also expected in the South Island, and snow accumulations could be large enough to require a warning in areas of southern Fiordland, Southland, Otago, Banks Peninsula, North Canterbury and the ranges of eastern Marlborough, as indicated on the chart.