Highways open as rain eases

Key highways are open and river levels are dropping as the wet weather eases in the South.

As of this morning State Highway 1, which was closed in three places last night, was open again at Milton and Karitane. Cautions are in place at several points north of Dunedin.

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The highway remains closed north of Oamaru between Pukeuri and Hilderthorpe with detours in place.

Numerous problems, including slips and surface flooding remain on local roads in Dunedin, Taieri and North Otago.  

Otago Regional Council monitoring shows the Taieri and Shag rivers, which were the main concern last night, are now dropping.

Flood alerts remain in place for several rivers in the region but levels are dropping.

There has been only scattered rainfall since late Saturday afternoon, and MetService are predicting reasonably dry conditions through until the middle of the week.