Four new heavy rain warnings have today been issued by MetService promoting fresh concerns of further flooding, particularly in the eastern Bay of Plenty which last week saw torrential downpours cause widespread surface flooding.

WeatherWatch.co.nz first predicted this new low pressure system mid way through last week and today Head Weather Analyst Philip Duncan says those early computer models were accurate.  “This system is large but hopefully not quite as aggressive as last weeks low, but either way heavy rain will again affect northern and some eastern regions”. 

Rain warnings are now in place for Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Rotorua.

MetService says rain should become heavy on Tuesday morning.  “In an 18 hour period from about 6am Tuesday, 80 to 100mm is likely. Rainfall rates of 30mm per hour are possible” says MetService.

Mr Duncan says the low will cross central New Zealand during Wednesday bringing rain to central areas, but by Thursday the low is likely to move out to the east.

A large high is forecast to move in during Thursday and Friday.