A severe weather warning is in place for the Bay of Plenty with heavy rain expected to hit the region today.

The MetService says an active front is moving eastwards across the lower and central North Island this morning and afternoon, preceded by heavy rain and north to northwest gales.

'Heavy rain from Wellington to Horowhenua, including the Tararua Range, and the central North Island hill country should ease from the south later this morning and afternoon, where a further 60 to 80mm of rain is expected in the ranges,” says the weather organisation.

'Heavy rain is also expected in the eastern ranges of Bay of Plenty, where 120mm of rain forecast from this afternoon to overnight tonight. Peak intenstiies of 15 to 25mm this evening.

'People in these areas are advised rivers and streams may rise rapidly, slips and surface flooding are likely.”

In Wellington, people are dealing with flooding as wild weather wallops the city.

Severe winds with a gust of 130km/h on the Rimutaka Hill summit, 122km/h at Mt Kaukau, and 93km/h at Kelburn are being reported.

Cars are also getting stuck in flood waters in Pauatahanui Village, reports Stuff.

Lots of rain in #Welly over the past 24 hours. Northeast coast of South Is. escaped the worst of it. Warnings: https://t.co/qHyE5zhh6X ^CF pic.twitter.com/TZzcKV0wfq

— MetService (@MetService) November 14, 2016