Severe weather warning for Rotorua, Taupo | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Rotorua residents are being warned about heavy rain which is due to hit the city.

A severe weather warning has been issued for Rotorua, Taupo and the rest of the Bay of Plenty which forecasts heavy rain and humid northerlies today and tomorrow.

MetService forecaster Chris Noble said bad weather would cover most of the country today.

"A low and associated fronts will cross New Zealand bringing heavy rain and strong winds to several parts of the country," he said.

"On Friday morning, the low and its fronts move away to the east followed by a weaker front moving up the South Island and on to the lower North Island by the end of the day."

Mr Noble said this front was not expected to bring widespread heavy rain, but northwesterlies could become blustery.

He said some areas could also experience winds reaching severe gales on Friday.

"On Saturday, a high over the Tasman Sea pushes a ridge on to the North Island which should linger through to Monday while a disturbed west or northwest flow covers the South Island."

He said that in the next two days rainfall could reach warning thresholds.

People are urged to remain up to date with the latest forecasts, in case further warnings become necessary.

MetService has reported that about 2mm of rain fell on the city yesterday, with 6.6mm falling in Rotorua on Tuesday, making it the sixth wettest place in the country on that day.

WeatherWatch forecasters said some people across the country would be happy to see the rainfall in the next few days.

"While gardeners and dairy farmers will be pleased with the rain, grain growers will be looking forward to drier weather - which will return by the weekend," forecasters said.

Meanwhile, Rotorua emergency services said they had not been called to any weather related incidents but would remain ready for instances of surface flooding and minor car crashes which were typical in wet weather.

Castlecorp general manager Mike Davies said he had not heard of any problems caused by the weather.

"It is just business as usual at the moment but we do monitor the situation."