MetService is warning of gale force winds off the coast, heavy rain which could lead to rivers rapidly rising and the possibility of surface flooding.

A tropically-charged storm is lashing many parts of the country as more moisture-laden weather systems move in as the week progresses.

Two schools were forced to close in the Eastern Bay of Plenty this morning due to the weather and one lane of State Highway 34, also in the Bay of Plenty, is now open after being closed this morning due to a slip.

A further 55 hours of rain is predicted to hit Northland from 6am Wednesday, with periods of heavy falls potentially reaching warning criteria.

Bay of Plenty from Rotorua to Te Kaha, Taranaki about and north of the mountain and Tongariro National Park are also set for dozens of hours of falls, at times heavy.

Buller, south of Karamea, is in for the long haul, with 66 hours of rainfall already under way and predicted to last until early Friday.

MetService has warned rain is forecast to ease this evening, and then reintensify on Wednesday morning.

As the subtropical low moves across the southern South Island today, gale marine warnings are in place for Foveaux, Grey, Milford and Puysegur.

Wet week ahead

Auckland can expect low cloud and a few showers, MetService reports, with some possible heavy downpours about the afternoon.

However, the city will be back in the firing line from Wednesday, giving only a few days’ respite from the weekend’s downpours.

“For Auckland, Waikato, Waitomo, the central high country, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and the far north of Gisborne, there is moderate confidence of heavy rain on Wednesday and low confidence on Thursday,” MetService reported.

The Bay of Plenty has already been hit hard by the band of heavy rain yesterday, bringing down slips and a power pole that narrowly missed a motorcyclist.

Tauranga Airport recorded 33mm in the 24 hours to 3pm, with the heaviest rainfall totalling about 8.2mm and coming between 9am and 10am. The rain station at Te Puke recorded about 30mm in 24 hours with Coromandel receiving 81mm.

A large tree fell on State Highway 2 at Bethlehem, between Te Paeroa Rd and Wairoa Pa Rd. The northbound lane was temporarily blocked while the tree was cleared.

Powerco said in a statement that extra crews were on the ground ready to make repairs and restore power to customers in the region.