State Highway One south of Oamaru has opened for the first time in two days as flood waters recede.
Waitaki Civil defence says that now the flooding has 'settled', it is focusing on the well being of Waitaki residents who remain isolated.
Waitaki motorists are advised to avoid travel where possible but if it is necessary to exercise extreme caution. Extra precautions are needed in the dark, where motorists need to watch for surface flooding on roads throughout the district, as well as hazards caused by pot holes and missing road covers.
Authorities are advising anyone cut off by flooding and needing help to ring 433 0300 or 0800 108 801.
State Highway 1 just north of Milton re-opened about 3.30pm after a truck jack-knifed around 10am.
In Central Otago, this morning's snow warning for the Lindis Pass has been lifted. However, a snow warning is now in place for SH85 between Palmerston and Kyeburn and also for SH 87 Outram To Middlemarch.
The MetService is warning of heavy rain later today and heavy snow to 400m in North Otago.
In North Otago rivers are retreating after three days of flood conditions but some state highways and 56 local roads remain closed, Waitaki Civil Defence said this morning.
Detours are no longer in place for SH1 south of Oamaru, but SH1 north of Oamaru remains closed between Pukeuri and Hilderthorpe with a detour along Seven Mile Road.
SH82 and SH83 were both now open.
Showers and sleet were forecast to continue today but high river levels were still retreating and the risk of further flooding was decreasing, a civil defence spokesman from Waitaki District Council said.
Water supplies would be inspected today but many rural water supplies remained shut down and people in those areas were asked to conserve water.
Supplies of bread and milk were running low but normal supply was expected to resume today, the spokesman said.
