Severe weather warnings for heavy rain in Hawke's Bay are in place from today until mid-Saturday.

There are also heavy rain watches in place for Gisborne, Wairarapa (including the Tararua District), Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and western Bay of Plenty.

And severe thunderstorm watches for Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Bay of Plenty.

MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris spoke to Māni Dunlop about where the rain was expected to fall, and how long the bad weather would last.