Commuters are being warned of heavy surface flooding affecting roads around Tauranga, with Tauranga City Council considering lane closures on a number of roads.

Council announced about 4pm Greerton's Maleme Street is closed near the transfer station until the surface flooding from the nearby drain subsides.

A section of Maleme Street is closed due to surface flooding. Photos: Tracy Hardy

A close eye is also being kept on State Highway 29 at the Oropi roundabout and Papamoa Beach Road east of Dickson Road.

Steady rain all day is beginning to overwhelm drains in low lying areas but Metservice is forecasting the persistent heavy rain to taper off this evening.

But the rain radar at 4.30pm shows at least another hour of heavy rain heading for Tauranga.