MetService has lifted its heavy snow warning for eastern Otago, but snow and rain showers are likely during the next 48 hours.
Otago Regional Council has warned river levels may rise when snowmelt and these showers strike already saturated soils.
It reminded people that snowmelt and further rainfall may cause river levels to rise again quickly, and said farmers should keep stock and equipment off flood-prone areas.
The Lower Clutha remains high as water from upper catchments drains into it. Minor surface flooding is expected to continue in low-lying areas.
River levels in the Taieri, Pomahaka, Tokomairiro, North Otago, Central Otago, and the Water of Leith (Dunedin) are above normal levels but are receding.
The worst of the winter storm sweeping across New Zealand is expected to strike this afternoon and continue into the night.
Heavy snow has already fallen in parts of the South Island.
At Sawyers Bay in Dunedin, a woman was rescued from her home after a landslip trapped her inside and brought a tree down on her car this morning.
The damage to Upper Junction Rd from the slip was very significant and would mean "months of closure to through traffic", Dunedin City Council Roading Maintenance Engineer Peter Standring said.
In the Mackenzie District, power was cut to about 3000 people this morning as the area experienced snowfalls of about half a metre.
"At this stage snow ploughs are out on the State Highways, and the snow plough has been around the township here in Fairlie and they are working their way out to rural areas now," Mackenzie Civil Defence emergency management officer Ray Gardner said.
Senior Constable Craig Bennett said there had been some traffic accidents in North Otago.
"And then I've had a farmer who was out feeding his sheep and an embankment in the snow has given way and pushed his vehicle into the middle of the Hakataramea River. So he had a cold wake-up and we had to get a tractor to extract him," Mr Bennett said.
In the Maniototo, Naseby was still cut off this afternoon and residents reported snow "waist-deep" in places.
Several elderly Naseby residents said it was the heaviest snowfall in decades. By noon there was about 40cm coating much of the town and the snow continued to fall.
Roading contractors worked hard to keep a path through council roads around the Maniototo after the heavy snowfall but police were advising motorists to avoid travelling around the area.
Maniototo Area School and St John's School, both of which cater for the wider Maniototo area, were both closed for the day.
In South Otago, some parts of the Lawrence area received more than 40cm of snow.
Geoff Blackmore who farms at Evans Flat said he had 40cm on the deck of his house, with more on other parts of the farm.
Power cuts continue to plague the area, with electricity intermittant at the Blackmore's.
PowerNet said electricity was restored to 1282 customers across the Lawrence area at 5.30am.
Across Otago-Southland, 500 remained without power early this afternoon.
In Milton, surface flooding closed roads and prompted the New Zealand Transport Agency to advise caution on State Highway 1 between Milton and Milburn.
Titri Rd and Taieri Ferry Rd near Waihola remain closed due to flooding, and Finlayson Rd between Taieri Mouth and Waihola is impassable due to snow and a fallen tree.
Winds were starting to strengthen to up to 130kmh on the east coast of the South Island and more than 150cm of snow could fall in some areas overnight, Mr Corbett said.
The polar blast is already causing strong winds and heavy showers on the North Island but it is expected to worsen significantly tonight.
"As we get to about nine o'clock to midnight tonight, somebody is almost like opening the flood gates through Cook Strait and whoosh, up it will come, barrelling in. That will bring the stronger winds into Wellington," Mr Corbett said.
Several residents at Leeston, south of Christchurch, woke to flooding from heavy overnight rain, which has also affected the town's sewerage system.
Selwyn District Council has asked Leeston residents to minimise toilet flushing while the sewerage system is being repaired.
A council spokeswoman said staff were sandbagging some properties and clearing blocked drains and roads but the water levels appeared to be receding. The flooding has also caused Ellesmere College and Leeston Consolidated School to close today.
A spokesman for Air New Zealand said the weather had caused some flight delays and cancellations, but the impact had not been significant.
A severe weather warning remains in place for most of the country.
MetService warns of severe gales about western and northern parts of the South Island, Wellington, Northland and Auckland.
There is also a warning for heavy snow and rain for the south and east of the South Island.
"People should be aware that snowfalls are likely to cause widespread disruption to traffic, especially about alpine passes and higher level roads. Damaging winds are likely to bring down trees and powerlines, make driving dangerous for high sided vehicles and motorcycles, and can cause damage to some structures."
It was earlier reported that the Maniototo bore the brunt of the wintry blast in Central Otago, with reports of 30-40cm of snow in Naseby, 20cm in Ranfurly, 25cm through the Ida Valley.
In Southland, the snow left some motorists stranded yesterday evening.
Senior Sergeant Dave Raynes, of Invercargill, said 20 vehicles were stranded on the Jollies Hill Pass on State Highway 6, between Kingston and Lumsden. A further six vehicles had slid off the road.
As the snow fell it was freezing and contractors had to use a grit truck and grader to clear the road and rescue the motorists, he said.
Stocking up
Milk, bread and firewood were in high demand across Otago yesterday as residents prepared for the cold snap.
Social support organisations also took precautions by stocking up their cupboards and organising alternative transport in case of road closures before the weekend.
Yesterday, supermarkets had their bread trays emptied and car parks filled, and the queues were continuous.
Pak'n Save Dunedin co-owner William McDonald said while yesterday's influx was noticeable, he had witnessed the same thing in past years when the MetService had forecast snow.
''It's busy, but this is nothing new. It's just people being aware of the weather and getting prepared.''
Extra stock from the store's Christchurch distribution centre had been ordered in case of a road closure. An extra delivery for the frozen food section had also been organised in readiness for today, freezer assistant Colin Tocher said.
Bradford resident and mother of four Phillippa Scott attempted to beat the rush by filling her trolley yesterday, but was joined by queues of people with the same idea. She said the price of her weekly shop was likely to be twice its usual size as she prepared for the weather.
Social organisations such as Dunedin's Salvation Army, the Methodist Mission, Age Concern and the St Barnabas Trust had taken weather precautions. Both St Barnabas Trust and Age Concern Otago's meals on wheels organisations yesterday contacted the Land Rover Owners Club to transport their meals throughout Dunedin, if necessary.
St Barnabas Trust's freezers were stocked with frozen meals to last a week, co-ordinator Lynette Keith said.
More staff had been rostered on and gas ovens were prepared in case of a power failure.
''We could feed 200 people for two weeks with the food we have here already.''
Southern District Health Board operations manager Megan Boivin said no health services would be cancelled or scaled down until the extent of any snowfall was known.
People with hospital appointments today or tomorrow should listen to the radio for updates, she said.
If necessary, the board would activate its emergency operations centre, where calls from patients would be directed in the event of disruption.
Flights around the country were affected by the weather conditions, including three flights between Christchurch and Queenstown.
- additional reporting Lynda van Kempen, Helena de Reus, Andrew Ashton, APNZ
