Heavy downpours have caused flooding in Tauranga where 49.4mm of rain overnight.

Most of the rain fell in the four hours from 2am to 6am when rainfall totalled 38mm, peaking in the hour up to 5am with 17mm of rain per hour.

As a result, police say Papamoa Beach Road and Maunganui and Tui Roads are experiencing significant surface flooding.

Road Warnings:

Flooding is also reported on State Highway 29, near Kaimai School, and State Highway 2, between Edgecumbe and Matata.

NZTA reports surface flooding in both the north and south-bound lanes from Tauranga to Te Poi. The road remains open but drivers are asked to driver with care on the highway.

Police say there is also flooding on Ngongotaha Road, between Fairy Springs Road and Ngongotaha, in Rotorua. The road is currently impassable.

MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr says a big low moving over the North Island brought the heavy dumping of rain overnight and more showers are forecast for today.

'The Kaimai Range got about 53mm and the rain in the area was a bit more consistent overnight with 53.8mm falling in the last 24 hours. The Kaimai Range peaked at about 7mm per hour.”

Whakatane had 42.6mm and the region peaked at 14mm per hour and other areas in the Eastern Bay of Plenty received similar amounts of rain overnight.

'As this big low moves over the North Island there are a couple of troughs in it, Tauranga could expect some showers which could be heavy and thundery at times this afternoon,” says Rob.

'The showers are expected to ease tonight and as the low tracks away tomorrow a more southerly flow should persist through the week bringing fine weather to the rest of the week.”

There are currently no weather warnings in place for Tauranga or the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Are you experiencing flooding? Have weather related photos? Email newsroom@thesun.co.nz or call 0800 SUNLIVE.