A severe weather watch has been issued for the Bay of Plenty this afternoon.

A moist northerly flow is expected to bring periods of heavy rain to parts of the North Island later on today and Wednesday.

Tomorrow will be a wet Wednesday for the Bay of Plenty. Photo: File.

This watch is for the possibility of rainfall accumulations approaching warning criteria, says a statement from the MetService.

People in the Bay of Plenty, especially the Eastern Bay, are being warned to prepare for heavy rain, starting tomorrow morning.

The temperatures in the region aren't expected to be any higher than 15 degrees during the day and temperatures of four, one and three degrees are expected for the next three nights.

A building high, however, will bring sunshine to the Bay towards the end of the week.

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