Motorists are being urged to drive carefully on Bay of Plenty roads with heavy rain forecast for the region.

The MetService has issued a severe weather watch for the Bay, Taupo, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay for the possibility of heavy rain and southerly gales.

Another dumping of snow is also expected for the Desert Road, snow is expected until early this afternoon followed by a few lighter snow flurries.

'Between 9am and 3pm today, a further 5 to 10cm is likely about higher parts of the road, with the heaviest falls this morning,” says the MetService.

'Heavy rain and southerly gales are forecast for Hawkes Bay, Gisborne and the eastern ranges of Bay of Plenty and Taupo until this evening, when the rain and winds should ease.

'Heavy snow is expected above 600 metres in Hawkes Bay and a warning is in force there.

'Heavy snow is also possible above 800 metres in Gisborne and the eastern ranges of Bay of Plenty, but especially above 1000 metres.”

#Crash blocking right lane southbound on #SH2 prior to Domain Rd, Papamoa exit. Avoid this route or #AllowExtraTime ^TP pic.twitter.com/e1qquN74Wr

— NZTA Waikato/BoP (@NZTAWaiBoP) July 13, 2017

With the incumbent weather, motorists are warned to take care on the roads.

Police have already responded to one crash on the Tauranga Eastern Link this morning and are now heading to a crash on Te Puke Highway, near Poplar Lane.

The TEL crash involved a ute hitting the wire barrier in the middle of the highway.

No one was reported to be injured and the road is now clear.