It was estimated over 40mm of rain fell in the past three days, causing the Mataura River to break its banks.
The Gore District Council said 13 streets across the district were closed, and urged residents to take care and drive carefully, as there could be scour damage around the areas affected.
It was a dour start to the fishing season, with the river muddy and waterlogged, but it did not stop one avid fisherman from getting out for a couple of casts.
Fisherman Kaleb Jack-Sinclair said although the conditions were far from ideal, he was still willing to give it a go.
"I’ve never seen the river like this.
"I was hoping to get out and get a bit of fishing done early in the season, but with the river like this there’s nothing you can really do about it," he said.
"It’s always worth a try though, throw the line out and listen to some music I guess," he said.
