A rain warning issued yesterday for the Bay of Plenty remains in place as a strong moist northwesterly flow moves over the North Island.

The flow is embedded with fronts that are expected to bring heavy rain to the eastern parts of the Bay of Plenty today and tomorrow.

A warning remains in place for the Tauranga area as well.

The MetService says heavy rain is expected to spread into the eastern ranges of Bay of Plenty and the ranges of Gisborne.

'For the central North Island high country, another 90 to 120mm is possible through until tonight, while about the ranges of eastern Bay of Plenty and Gisborne, 100 to 150mm of rain may accumulate, before easing early Sunday morning,” says the weather organisation.

'This rain is likely to lead to surface flooding, slips, and rapidly rising streams and rivers.”

Rain is expected to become heavy today, before easing early Sunday morning.

In the 18 hours between 9am today and 3am Sunday, expect 100 to 150mm of rain to accumulate. Peak intensities of 15 to 25mm per hour this evening and early Sunday morning.