Strong winds and heavy rain are forecast to lash the Bay of Plenty this afternoon with the Metservice issuing a severe weather watch for the region.

Metservice says a deep low-lying west off the North Island is expected to track southeastwards, bringing gale force winds.

Photo: File.

Metservice meteorologist John Law says it's not looking like a very nice day, with a burst of heavy rain already hitting the Bay this lunchtime.

Northwest gales are forecast from this afternoon until later tonight as a low passes southeastwards across the North Island this evening.

'We are still going to find northwesterly winds picking up this afternoon until midnight tonight,” says John.

'They could become severe in the exposed parts of the Bay of Plenty, but generally those winds will pick up, bringing some more wet weather to end the day.”

Tauranga can expect rain to fall from about 10am today, with the heaviest falls expected early this afternoon, adds John.

In the Coromandel Peninsula there is a moderate risk of elevated thunderstorms during early afternoon.

Metservice forecast these thunderstorms could boost rainfall rates into the 10-25mm/hr range.

The severe weather watch will be reviewed at 9pm.