A mixture of weather is expected for the Bay of Plenty today with the New Zealand MetService issuing a severe thunderstorm watch as well as predicting a day without rain.

MetService chief forecaster Peter Kreft says the thunderstorm watch if for the area from Bay of Plenty through to the central North Island high country.

'This morning, very heavy showers have fallen around Whakatane,” says Peter.

'Right now, showers are forming along a line over the Rangitaiki Plains, where light westerly winds are meeting light southeasterlies.

'During the afternoon and evening, this line is expected to drift slowly westwards.

'This afternoon in particular, thunderstorms could pop up almost anywhere inside the area bounded roughly by Tauranga, Taumarunui, Waiouru, Ruatahuna and Te Araroa.

'Because these storms are likely to be slow moving, localised downpours of 30 to 40mm/h – enough rain to cause localised flash flooding –is possible.

'Additionally quite big hail, and possibly large accumulations of hail, is possible.”

He also says as thunderstorms are localised, they may not occur everywhere and some parts of the region may not see a shower at all.