A boat has grounded on the rocks on Tauranga's waterfront.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council says the Harbourmaster team were notified earlier this morning of a boat aground on the rocks opposite the Strand in the Tauranga inner harbour.

"The team are working with the owner of the Lady Patricia," says a post on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council website.

They crew is hoping to remove it from its current position around high tide at 3.30pm.

Coastal conditions for the Bay of Plenty are Northeast winds 15 easing to 10 knots for a time this afternoon, then rising to 20 knots in the evening. Sea becoming moderate in the evening. Cloudy with fair visibility in occasional showers this evening. Northeast swell 2 metres.

A heavy rain watch is in force for the region today.

Periods of heavy rain, with thunderstorms possible. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria, says the MetService.