The rain is forecast to clear from this afternoon and tomorrow is expected to be fine, too.
Regular Wanaka camper Patrick Murphy (70) was one of many patiently sitting out the rain yesterday, but wishing he could be fishing.
Mr Murphy, who will celebrate his birthday on New Year's Day, has been at the Wanaka Lakeview Holiday Park since December 20 and has been a regular visitor for 10 years.
He and his friends enjoy fishing, especially on Lake Hawea, but have not been able to put their boats out yet, firstly because of the high winds and now the rain.
"It's been terrible but I am hoping it will come right by Wednesday.
But I've been camping before, so I know what it's like," he quipped.
Mr Murphy has whiled away his time eating cherries and relaxing in his tent.
He has all the mod cons at his powered site, including a heater for the cold days and a fan for the hot.
"I am quite comfortable, actually," he said.
Senior Const Ian Henderson said the weather was putting a damper on everyone and there were very few incidents being followed up.
"The traffic didn't really start until after lunch [on Boxing Day].
The traffic has been pretty good.
There's been a few speeders, boats being towed too fast and people in a hurry to get here," he said.
The Metservice has issued a severe weather warning for the Otago rivers and headwaters and is advising people to keep abreast of forecasts and conditions.
"This heavy rain will cause river and stream levels to rise rapidly and there may be slips, surface flooding and poor visibility, making driving conditions hazardous," forecasters John Crouch and Andy Downs said yesterday.
The Department of Conservation's popular Outlet Track between Wanaka and Albert Town could not be cycled yesterday because there is water on the track.
Doc has not reinstated a "high alert" on the Young Valley, because the rain is not as heavy as last week's.
Wanaka Doc community relations manager Annette Smith said the department was still keeping an eye on the landslip dam in the Young Valley, but it was not at a critical stage.
The rain was also helping moderate the district's extreme fire risk, Ms Smith said.
How much rain?
Rainfall
Makarora: 40.5mm by 1pm yesterday (248mm in last week).
Matukituki: 15mm (86.5mm).
Cascade Hut: 66mm (296mm).
Albert Burn: 39.5mm (268mm).
Lake levels
Lake Hawea: 343.9m above sea level at 1pm (statutory maximum is 346m).
Lake Wanaka: 278.5m at 1pm (first flood alert is 279.4)
River flows
Clutha River at Cardrona confluence: 469.3cumecs at 1pm (first flood alert 600cumecs).
Matukituki River: 158.2cumecs.
Clutha River at Clyde: 822cumecs.
Source: Otago Regional Council water information website
