MetService has issued a severe weather watch for the Bay of Plenty due to expected bursts of heavy rain this weekend.

"A moist north to northwest flow is expected to spread over New Zealand today (Thursday), with a series of embedded troughs moving across the country during the next few days, bringing bursts of heavy rain to many places," MetService reports.

"Rain is expected to develop in Bay of Plenty this evening," MetService says. "This Watch is for the ranges of eastern Bay of Plenty, where accumulations may approach warning criteria from early Friday through to Saturday morning."

The issued weather watch notes that rain should continue into Sunday in many areas, with heavy falls likely.