A severe weather warning remains in place for the Bay of Plenty as a deep low sits just east of Gisborne.

Today will be a chilly one in the Bay with fresh southerlies expected to blow.

It was a chilly start to the morning with southerly winds bringing cooler tempertures.

The MetService is predicting a fine day in both the Western and Eastern Bay, but a warning remains in place for strong winds.

'Southerly gales are expected to ease slowly during Thursday. Gusts of 120 km/h are possible in some places until dawn on Thursday,” says a statement from the weather organisation.

Further east, the heavy rain seen in the Bay yesterday is expected to continue in the Gisborne and Hawke's Bay areas.

'A deep low just east of Gisborne is moving slowly away from the North Island. The low is directing a strong southerly airflow over the east of the North Island,” says the MetService.

'About the ranges of Gisborne and northern Hawkes Bay, heavy rain is falling and is expected to continue until Thursday afternoon.”

A further 80 to 100mm of rain could fall before mid-afternoon on Thursday.

In addition, severe gale southerlies gusting 120 km/h are expected about exposed parts of Gisborne and eastern Bay of Plenty until dawn on Thursday.

'People are advised that this amount of rain may cause rivers and streams to rise rapidly, with slips and surface flooding possible. Also, the wind may bring down trees and powerlines in exposed areas, and make driving hazardous for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.”