Heavy rain has eased after five days, leaving authorities to focus on clean-up efforts after flooding swamped coastal Otago.
Summary
SH1 open in most areas but caution urged.
Surface flooding and slips on many local roads. Motorists urged to avoid travelling unless necessary.
River levels dropping but some alerts remain.
Roads
Portobello Road, between Castlewood Rd and Broad Bay closed because of blockages. For latest Dunedin road information click here
SH1 south of Oamaru is open, but surface water in a number of places.
SH1 north of Oamaru closed between Pukeuri and Hildethorpe 6 kms north of Oamaru. Detour available via SH 83 and Seven Mile Road. Extreme caution is required due to surface flooding.
State Highway 1, north and south of Milton, and State Highway 8 to Lawrence, are open. Motorists are asked to proceed with care.
Fifty rural roads across North Otago remain closed. For a full list go to www.waitaki.govt.nz
A number of roads still closed in Milton. For a full list go to www.cluthadc.govt.nz
Rivers
Flood warning remains in place for the Taieri River. The Taieri at Outram is flowing at 700m3/sec and expected to continue to gradually recede.
The Taieri River at Outram peaked at 1200 cumecs, which is the 3rd highest flow at this site since records began in 1968. The highest flow recorded at Outram was 2500 cumecs in June 1980.
The Waipori River level has dropped 1.2m from a peak of 104m yesterday.
The Silver Stream has fallen to 19m3/sec after reaching 130m3/sec yesterday.
The Tokomairiro River has fallen to 14m3/sec from a high yesterday of 84m3/sec.
The Waitahuna River is down to 42m3/sec from a high of 95m3/sec.
The Shag River has receded to 80m3/sec after reaching 260m3/sec.
The Kakanui has receded to 50m3/sec after reaching 440m3/sec.
The Waikouaiti River has receded to 20m3/sec are reaching 81m3/sec.
Despite receding, the flows in several rivers remain very high at this time. Therefore, flood warnings remain in place for the, Shag, Waitahuna and Kakanui Rivers.
