A strong burst of heavy rain is expected to sweep across the region today, with MetService issuing an orange rain warning for areas about and east of Rotorua from 9am today to 2am tomorrow.

The warning is also in place for Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty.

Forecasters are predicting 80–120mm of rainfall, with peak intensities of 15–25mm/h from this afternoon.

Conditions may worsen east of Whakatāne this evening, where rainfall rates could rise to 25–40mm/h, accompanied by possible thunderstorms.

While the event is significant, the likelihood of an upgrade to a red warning remains minimal, MetService said in its latest weather update.

Rain Band Moving South

Heavy Rain Warnings are still in their early days, so accumulations are just starting to climb.

You can see two different directions of rain due to different wind flows at different levels of the atmosphere!

Check out the radar here:… pic.twitter.com/zmUEP3SLSF

— MetService NZ (@MetService) December 28, 2025

Expected Impacts

Local authorities warn that streams and rivers may rise rapidly, increasing the risk of:

Surface flooding

Slips and debris flows

Hazardous or reduced‑visibility driving conditions

Disruptions on rural and coastal roads

What residents should do

Emergency managers advise residents to take practical steps ahead of the downpour:

Clear drains and gutters to reduce flood risk.

Avoid low‑lying and flood‑prone areas.

Drive with extra caution, particularly from late afternoon when rain is expected to intensify.

Heavy rain is likely to be highly localised at times, and conditions may change quickly throughout the evening.