The watch comes after flooding affected several roads in the South, prompting warnings for motorists and almost cutting off the Southland town of Waikaia.
The Southland District Council advised this morning that nearly all roads leading out of the town were flooded.
The SDC said the Riversdale-Waikaia road from Main Wendonside to Waikaia was closed, as well as Block Rd, Piano Flat Rd and Pyramid Waiparu Rd.
Waikaia Store owner Lyn Brown said people could get in and out of the town using Winding Creek Rd, Fairfax reported.
Several other roads in the South have been affected, prompting warnings for motorists.
The NZ Transport Agency advises that State Highway 90 between Tapanui and Waikoikoi is closed, and a flood caution is in place for SH6 Queenstown-Kingston.
The Otago Regional Council said this morning that the Pomahaka, Kakanui, and Taieri rivers reached flood warning levels yesterday evening.
The Pomahaka River at Burkes Ford is still high and rising quickly. It is likely it will peak early this afternoon and flooding of paddocks close to the river is expected.
The Taieri River is high in the Strath Taieri area are high and will continue to rise during the day. The lower river is also expected to rise throughout the day but is not expected to cause flooding of Henley.
The Clutha is high at Balclutha and is expected to rise throughout the day and flooding could occur upstream of Balclutha.
Groundwater levels in South Dunedin have risen but there are no reports of widespread surface flooding. Dunedin streams have peaked and are receding.
The Clutha District council says the following roads are closed:
Beatties Rd – Station Rd to SH 90, Wooded Hill Rd - SH90 to Ardmore Rd, Koi Flat Rd - Pomahaka Rd to Conical Hill, Ardmore Rd - Park Hill to Wooded Hill Rd, Greenvale Rd - Cross Rd to Wooded Hill, Paradise Flat Rd – Ardmore Rd to Herbert’s Stable, Winslade Rd - Station Rd to Greenvale Rd, MacFarlane – Clydevale Rd to Burkes Ford, Ross Rd – Clydevale Rd to Pomahaka Downs Rd and Pomahaka River Rd – Clydevale Rd to Lonsdale Rd.
These roads will remain closed until at least 8.30am Tuesday morning.
At Black Gully West Road at the first bridge, flooding signs have been erected.
The CDC says the Tuapeka Punt will be ceasing operations until further notice.
