MetService has issued a severe weather watch for strong westerlies and rain for later today as a weather front moves over the country.

The severe weather watch includes the Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and the Waikato, and warns of gale force westerly winds.

The front is expected to move rapidly east over the country on Tuesday, bringing a period of rain to western areas and strong to gale westerlies across much of the North Island.

For the Coromandel and Bay of Penty the warning is in effect from later this afternoon until early tomorrow morning.

People in these areas are advised to stay up to date with the latest forecasts in case part of this watch is upgraded to a warning.