Reports are coming in to SunLive of trees down, and damage to Kawerau properties following strong winds accompanied by rain that came through the town around midday.  There has also been flooding in Pāpāmoa.

Earlier today MetService issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch that included the possibility of small tornadoes or strong squalls of 80-100km/h moving with the thunderstorms through the area.

"It was horrendous," says a retail assistant in Liverpool Road, Kawerau.

"The rain came in sideways and we had to shut the front door. The back sign of our shop got smashed.

"Our outside area got flooded, it was up to my ankles."

She says she was running around trying to save products in their outdoor area.

"Three guys came in absolutely drenched. They said they'd been holding on to a gazebo and the wind came and lifted it right off. They were completely soaked."

Storm damage in Cobham Drive, Kawerau. Photo: Supplied.

Intense rain and wind caused surface flooding and tree damage in Kawerau around noon on Wednesday. Photo: Moana Wineti.

Storm damage in Kawerau. Photo: Kawerau District Council.

Storm damage in Kawerau. Photo: Kawerau District Council.

Storm damage in Kawerau. Photo: Kawerau District Council.

There are also incoming reports of surface flooding in Kawerau at the end of Liverpool Street and on Holyoake Crescent, with a tree down across Ward Street.

"There is a tree down by Tarawera High School. It felt like a tornado came through - it was very intense," says a SunLive reader.

"Police and fire engines are now in River Road."

Another SunLive reader reports that there are cars crushed by a fallen tree in the Tarawera High School car park. 

"There were numerous large trees fallen along River Road by the school," says the SunLive reader.

Storm damage in Kawerau. Photo: Supplied.

Storm damage in Cobham Drive, Kawerau. Photo: Supplied.

"The wind was just huge and I wondered if the roof was going to come off," says another SunLive reader.

"I thought "is this a tornado?" I've never seen rain like that going in sideways."

Kawerau District Council has closed the Maurie Kjar Aquatic Centre due to the weather.

MetService have issued a Severe Thunderstom Watch for the Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Gisborne areas today.

A 9.50am update from MetService included an alert about the possibility of small tornadoes or strong squalls also happening.

Intense rain and wind caused tree and powerline damage in Kawerau around noon on Wednesday. Photo: Moana Wineti.

Storm damage in Cobham Drive, Kawerau. Photo: Supplied.

A rain-band with embedded thunderstorms has been moving eastwards over Bay of Plenty this morning with localised downpours.

"For Bay of Plenty and Rotorua from about Tauranga eastwards this morning, and for northern Gisborne/Tairawhiti north and west of East Cape late morning and early afternoon, some of the thunderstorms may be severe with localised downpours of 25-40mm/h," says a MetService spokesperson. 

Several trees have fallen in the storm. Photo: Stacy Chandler.

"Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips.

"Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain.

"Small tornadoes or strong squalls of 80-100km/h are also possible with the thunderstorms. The thunderstorm activity eases from the west in Bay of Plenty this morning, and northern Gisborne/Tairawhiti early afternoon."

Flooding in Hartford Street, Pāpāmoa, following an intense weather event around noon on Wednesday. Photo: Huri Paraha.

MetService has lifted the Bay of Plenty’s severe thunderstorm warning.

However, a thunderstorm “watch” remains in place, as possible strong wind gusts and small tornadoes continue to affect eastern Bay of Plenty.

Surface flooding was reported across the Hauraki Plains and western areas of the Coromandel Peninsula after thunderstorms swept through the region this morning.

Video of  flooding in Hartford Street, Pāpāmoa, following an intense weather event around noon on Wednesday. Video:  Huri Paraha.

Do you have any photos of the damage in Kawerau? Please send to newsroom@thesun.co.nz or phone 0800SUNLIVE