Residents in Bay of Plenty and Central Plateau have today been issued with rain warnings as yet another Tasman Sea low takes aim on the North Island.

In what is proving to be a very wet and warm month for the North Island, WeatherWatch.co.nz forecasters believe this may be the last North Island rain event for a couple of weeks that taps into the saturated sub-tropical air north of New Zealand.

Since Easter northerlies have delivered low after low and rain maker after rain maker for the North Island with the recent significant rain event hitting the South Island too, bringing slip[s and flooding to Dunedin and Otago.

This next system is unlikely to have serious spill over for places such as Otago and Hawkes Bay in the east, which will be good news for residents still mopping up and making repairs to torrential rain events over the past couple of weeks.

However WeatherWatch.co.nz says the risk of slips and flooding is considered “very high” across Bay of Plenty and motorists driving on State Highway Two through the Waioeka Gorge are advised to be on the look out for rockfalls, slips, dangerous waterfalls on the highway and potential flooding.

Flooding may also affect low lying farmland around Whakatane especially, with the heaviest rain likely to linger around eastern Bay of Plenty.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz

Here are the latest warnings from Metservice, as of 1:30pm Tuesday.

Bay Of Plenty

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Bay of Plenty Heavy rain is expected to develop early Wednesday morning and continue into Thursday. In the 30 hours from 3am Wednesday until 9am Thursday, 120 to 150mm of rain is expected about the Bay of Plenty ranges. During the same period, about 60 to 80mm is possible nearer the coast. The heaviest rain is likely Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning when intensities may reach 20 to 25mm per hour. 

Rotorua

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Bay of Plenty Heavy rain is expected to develop early Wednesday morning and continue into Thursday. In the 30 hours from 3am Wednesday until 9am Thursday, 120 to 150mm of rain is expected about the Bay of Plenty ranges. During the same period, about 60 to 80mm is possible nearer the coast. The heaviest rain is likely Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning when intensities may reach 20 to 25mm per hour.

Taupo

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Ranges of Taupo and the Tongariro National Park Rain is expected to become heavy during Wednesday morning. In the 24 hours from 6am Wednesday to 6am Thursday, 100 to 120mm of rain is possible about the ranges and Central Plateau mountains. The heaviest falls of rain are expected Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning, when intensities could reach 15 to 20mm per hour.

Taihape

Heavy Rain Warning, Areas Affected: Ranges of Taupo and the Tongariro National Park Rain is expected to become heavy during Wednesday morning. In the 24 hours from 6am Wednesday to 6am Thursday, 100 to 120mm of rain is possible about the ranges and Central Plateau mountains. The heaviest falls of rain are expected Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning, when intensities could reach 15 to 20mm per hour