A severe weather warning remains in place for the Bay of Plenty as heavy rain approaches the region.

The MetService upgraded is watch to a warning yesterday with predictions of heavy rain for this afternoon.

Image: MetService.

'A strong, moist northerly flow covers New Zealand ahead of an approaching front over the Tasman Sea. This front is forecast to move onto the South Island tonight and onto the North Island on Wednesday, bringing rain to many parts of the country,” says the MetService.

'Rain is expected to become heavy about the Bay of Plenty east of Whakatane from around midday to Thursday morning, with 150mm likely about the ranges.”

People are advised that this amount of rain will cause rivers and streams to rise rapidly, with slips and surface flooding possible.

The MetService is expected to issue any updates at around 9am.

Keep checking SunLive for further updates.

Lots of cloud being dragged down from the sub-tropics over #NZ today ^EB pic.twitter.com/OmuWllvnuA

— MetService (@MetService) June 21, 2016