The region was hit hard by heavy snow at the weekend, causing the roofs of Stadium Southland's and Wren's paint shop to collapse, the roof of Windsor New World supermarket to partially collapse, and roofs of commercial buildings, including The Warehouse and Farmers department store, to sag.
"It doesn't look like we had snow overnight and some has definitely melted," Civil Defence spokeswoman Adrienne Henderson told NZPA today.
"Hopefully, we can melt some of it today and Tuesday before we get anymore, and then it may not be too much of an issue. We're just sitting and waiting and seeing at the moment."
MetService predicted more snow for Southland and Clutha from this evening, when a cold front was expected to bring strong and cold southwesterlies across the lower South Island.
Civil Defence decided against declaring a state of emergency yesterday, but warned schools and businesses to be cautious about re-opening today because of the risk of more roofs collapsing.
"We want them to consider the risk to the public before they decide to do that."
Aurora College, in Tokanui, Southland Community College and the Southern Institute of Technology, were among those who had decided not to open today.
People were warned against getting on to roofs and trying to push snow off.
"We don't want to fill up A and E with broken wrist and legs and things from falling off," Ms Henderson said.
"The other thing is for people to watch out for ice if they're driving or walking along footpaths."
Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt said yesterday the Invercargill City Council would be investigating why the roof of the $10 million Stadium Southland collapsed, saying there were concerns about its structural soundness since it was built 10 years ago.
A meeting was to be held today to discuss the stadium, which had been cleared for demolition.
Southland was not the only part of the country to suffer the effects of the weekend storm, with gale force winds and lightning strike cutting power to more than 55,000 households in central North Island regions of the Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Taranaki, Wanganui, Rangitikei and the Wairarapa.
Powerco had restored power to most homes by yesterday, but about 600 remained without power overnight.
Drivers were today being urged to drive cautiously in the central North Island where many roads had been affected by flooding and slips.
State Highway 56 at Tiakitahuna in Taranaki remained closed due to flooding today and detours were in place.
MetService issued warnings for gales in parts of Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa today, as well as heavy rain in the west of the South Island.
