The Otago Regional Council warned everyone near rivers in both coastal and inland Otago should be vigilant, as flows could fluctuate without warning.
"The Pomahaka, Taieri, Manuherikia and North Otago Rivers are all high and are likely to remain so for several days," ORC engineering, hazards and science director Dr Gavin Palmer said.
The "low-lying unprotected areas adjoining the river downstream of Outram, and between Allanton and Henley could be flooded," Dr Palmer said. Yesterday, it was announced the persistent rain had forced the cancellation of the Southern Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association Show in Waimate for the first time in its 134-year history.
Show president Dan Studholme said it was "quite a big deal" to cancel the Waimate event, but ground conditions were "ridiculous".
"We’ve got the situation where we wouldn’t even be able to park vehicles or accommodate animals, so we decided we need to make a call early so we could let all exhibitors, trades and the public know it was cancelled."
In North Otago, market gardeners were battling the rain to fill supermarket orders. Suzie Joe, of Alma, said the rain was "disastrous".
"We’ve had about three inches [75mm] of rain in the last few days. We did manage to get some broccoli and bits and pieces before the heavy rain. It’s pretty disastrous."
Brydone Growers owner-operator Marty Quennell’s low-lying Totara paddock was planted in broccoli and cauliflower and workers were set to pull vegetables from it, but they were beaten to the punch by Mother Nature.
The paddock was flooded and although the financial loss would not be too bad, he did not know when staff would be able to reach nearby potatoes.
Mr Quennell believed the rains were too early to affect stock being grown for the Christmas holiday period.
Mosgiel agricultural contractor Ian Brown said the constant downpour and delay in supplies from the North Island because of the North Canterbury earthquakes had "virtually stopped" production of baleage and silage.
"Paddocks are sodden.
"The inexperienced that are trying to cut stuff, it is a recipe for disaster. It won’t even make good manure."
While the rain meant good growth to grass, the waterlogged paddocks could not be reached by animals and the grass would "go off", he said.
Clinton farmer Tony Holden feared a delay in production of winter feed including baleage and silage could have the strongest impact next winter.
"It could impact the amount and quality of what’s available and that will be the knock-on effect."
Riverside Rd farmer Paul Urquhart said about 10% of his farm was under water.
Ensuring cows were getting enough to eat when it was so wet underfoot was challenging, he said.
The farmer was busy draining crops to prevent them from drowning.
Otago Federated Farmers president Phill Hunt said the unseasonable flooding would have a "medium term impact" on farmers in the region.
"The key message is to make sure you don’t run into any compliance issues with effluent ponds being too full."
The flooding had some benefits, Mr Hunt said.
"This time last year people were ringing saying ‘what’s happening with drought?’ ."
Stock were unlikely to die, but ongoing damp weather could impact lamb growth.
"Most of us in New Zealand can go home to a dry house, [but] stock out there in that [wet weather] can get a little miserable."
MetService meteorologist Claire Flynn said Dunedin’s northern motorway’s highest point, the Leith Saddle, got 33.8mm of rain for the 24 hours from 7pm Wednesday — the most of any MetService weather station in Otago and Southland in the same time period.
"It’s a decent amount in 24 hours," Ms Flynn said.
The most rain to fall in any hour in the South within the 24 hours was at Oamaru Airport, when 5.4mm fell from 7pm on Wednesday.
The showers across the South were forecast to clear overnight for a fine morning today.
However, scattered showers were forecast later today, Ms Flynn said.
The scattered showers would remain in the South tomorrow and clear for a "mostly fine" day on Sunday, with showers isolated to coastal areas.
