A severe weather watch is in place for the Bay of Plenty and Coromandel, despite the sun shining this morning.

The MetService issued the watch this morning forecasting heavy rain both areas this afternoon, through to the evening.

'A front, preceded by a band of northeasterly rain, moves southwards over northern New Zealand today,” says the weather organisation.

'Rain is expected to be heavy for a time, and accumulations may reach short-duration warning criteria about Coromandel Peninsula and western Bay of Plenty.”

On Monday, Tauranga was pumelled by heavy rain, with 79mm of rain recorded during the day and another 32mm through the night.

Heavy Rain Watch

Area: Coromandel Peninsula Valid: 6 hours from 11am to 5pm Wednesday Forecast: 50mm possible in 6 hours.

Area: Bay Of Plenty west of Te Puke Valid: 6 hours from 1pm to 7pm Wednesday Forecast: 50mm possible in 6 hours.