UPDATED 12.25PM: MetService has lifted the rainfall watch for the Bay of Plenty.

The trough moving east across the Bay of Plenty waters has been bringing some rain to places along the coast.

However, the heaviest falls have remained out to sea and it now appears unlikely that coastal locations in the Bay of Plenty will see significant rainfalls today.

The watch for the chance of heavy rain is now lifted.

EARLIER:

The MetService has issued a Severe Weather Watch for possible brief heavy rain until early afternoon along the Western Bay of Plenty coast.

A trough lying near Matakana Island is moving slowly eastwards.

There is a risk that this trough could bring a period of heavy rain to coastal areas of Bay of Plenty between Katikati and Matata this morning and early afternoon, although the heaviest falls are most likely to be over the sea.

Due to the recent heavy rain and flooding in this area, any more heavy rain could cause problems for people living in, or travelling through this region.

As the trough is now moving away from the Coromandel Peninsula, the risk of heavy rain there has eased and the Heavy Rain Watch is lifted for places north of Katikati.