The Bay of Plenty is being warned to prepare for possible thunderstorms and tornados this afternooon.

A trough moving over the county is expected to bring strong north-westerlies ahead of a cooler south-westerly front.

Tornados are being predicted for the Bay of Plenty. Photo: MetService, via Twitter.

The risk of thunderstorms in the northern half of the North Island is described as moderate.

'Any thunderstorms that eventuate are likely to produce localised heavy rain of 10 to 25mm per hour, strong wind gusts around 90kmh to 100kmh, hail and possibly a small tornado near the Bay of Plenty coast,” says MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr.

Rob says a deluge is currently making its way towards Auckland.

Heavy and thundery showers are expected for a short time in Hamilton, while Tauranga can expect strong winds during the afternoon and a high of 16 degrees.

If a tornado does touch down in the Bay, it will be the second one in less than a week.

Katikati residents were left to clean up after a tornado ripped through the region on Saturday.

This follows on from the tornados and windstorm which battered Mount Maunganui earlier this year.