Consistent rain since Saturday boosted Lakes Wanaka and Wakatipu close to the first flood alert levels last night, while Lake Hawea, a modified natural lake used as a hydro-electricity storage facility, was almost at the top of its operating range.
Queenstown Lakes district harbourmaster Marty Black said there was no cause for concern, although having water covering the Wanaka jetty was "quite a good trigger point" for people to start thinking about lake levels.
"Just keep an eye on it. But I don't think it will go much higher. It may peak overnight. but then should drop away," Mr Black said.
The MetService says more rain is likely in the Southern Lakes region and Mt Aspiring National Park today and tomorrow, clearing for a fine weekend.
The Otago Regional Council duty flood manager could not be contacted for comment last night and the total amount of rainfall in the district since Saturday night could not be obtained.
However, the ORC water information website showed river flows appeared to have passed their peaks.
The Matukituki River peaked at 725cumecs on Monday and had dropped to about 111cumecs yesterday.
The Hawea River, which is controlled by Contact Energy, had dropped to 31.9cumecs, down from just over 70cumecs on Monday.
The Clutha River's flow was about 495cumecs at the Cardrona confluence yesterday and at the Clyde dam had dropped from a peak of 790cumecs to 750cumecs.
Contact Energy generation manager Graham Quinn said last night Lake Hawea was nearly at its peak of 346m above sea level yesterday morning.
Lake levels
• Lake Wakatipu: 310.2m at 4pm yesterday.
- First flood alert 310.8m.
- Possible flooding 311.2m.
- November 1999 flood level 312.7m.
• Lake Wanaka: 278.4m at 4pm yesterday.
- First flood alert 279.7.
- Possible flooding 280.2m.
- November 1999 flood level 281.3m.
• Lake Hawea (hydro-electricity storage): 345.8 at 4pm yesterday.
- Maximum consented level 346m.
- Maximum recorded level December 1984 347.3m.
