Another deluge of heavy rain set to hit Gisborne, Hawke's Bay

A severe weather warning has been issued for the Hawke's Bay, as the region continues to recover from the damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Hawke's Bay has an Orange rain warning in place, with periods of heavy rain expected from 10am today until 10am on Saturday.

"Expect 150 to 200mm of rain about the ranges and also away from the ranges north of Hastings (this includes the Esk Valley area and the Wairoa District), and 75 to 100mm elsewhere," MetService said.

The heaviest falls are likely from 3pm Friday, with peak rates of 20 to 30mm/h possible.

MetService have warned the rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly with surface flooding and slips possible. Driving conditions may be hazardous.

Meanwhile, a heavy rain watch remains in place for Gisborne and Wairarapa.

Gisborne can expect to see 34 hours of rainfall from Thursday afternoon until midnight on Friday, with rainfall amounts possibly approaching warning criteria.

Thunderstorms are also expected to develop in the region this afternoon from Tolaga Bay northwards.

MetService said the thunderstorms may produce downpours with intensities of 25 to 40mm per hour but they are expected to ease this evening.

"Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips.

"Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain," MetService said.

It comes after both regions were battered by Cyclone Gabrielle, with several people still missing.

Speaking to Breakfast this morning, Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz said the local residents are "hurting" amid the cyclone devastation.

"If you visit some of the homes that have had damage, it's tough out there, people are anxious and on top of that we need to take into account our businesses are really anxious because there are water restrictions that are restriction what they can do at this stage.

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"Even though things were looking up for the rain, there's a lot of anxiety, there's a lot of uncertainty dealing with network fragility, water, roading."

"We have so much work ahead of us," Stoltz said.