Coastal North Otago escaped the worst of heavy rain early yesterday, despite a weather warning up to 60mm could fall.
However, inland around Omarama and Twizel up to 100mm fell from Sunday evening to about 11am yesterday.
Omarama and Kurow civil defence volunteers went out early yesterday to check conditions, but did not report any problems.
The rain caused rivers to rise, the Ahuriri River at the SH8 bridge rising from about 30cumecs to 304cumecs before stabilising about 1pm yesterday.
There were also no problems reported in coastal North Otago.
Oamaru had about 25mm of rain over 12 hours from 11pm on Sunday, the Kakanui Valley 29mm and the Dasher in the Kakanui Mountains 26.5mm. Further north, heavy rain was followed by snow last night.
The highest rainfall levels were at Mount Cook Village, which received 41.6mm, and Arthur's Pass, with 89.2mm.
''That has now turned to snow and road snow warnings have been issued for the roads around there,'' forecaster Liz Walsh said.
Southern Canterbury had received the most significant snowfalls yesterday, particularly around the Mackenzie Basin, and snow was expected down to 500m overnight.
Heavy rain fell on the West Coast, including northern Westland and Buller, where it was still raining last night.
- Additional reporting APNZ
