North Otago did not suffer as badly as other areas, particularly north of Ashburton, with the storm abating as it moved into the area early on Thursday.
In Milton yesterday, there was an eerie sense of deja vu as rising river levels returned exactly one year after floods swept through part of the town.
More rain is thought to have fallen in Milton than during last July's floods, but it was spread over a longer period.
Early estimates of damage to roads and other services in North Otago was about $50,000, Waitaki District Council emergency services manager Eric Spittal said yesterday.
Some of the cost will be recovered through Land Transport New Zealand subsidies.
Mr Spittal warned motorists to take care on roads because they may have been damaged by flooding.
The major work created by the storm will be cleaning up culverts blocked by debris.
Rain of up to 5mm an hour on Thursday was replaced yesterday with misty weather and occasional drizzle.
Surface water was spread on low-lying areas throughout the district.
Oamaru had minor surface flooding on Thursday and the Oamaru Creek was still running high yesterday.
Oamaru had about 60mm of rain during the storm but inland areas had a lot more - Five Forks about 80mm and The Dasher on the Kakanui Mountains about 125mm.
At its peak, low-lying land next to the river below the SH1 bridge was flooded, but by midday yesterday most of the water had receded.
Flood water remained under the Deborah railway overbridge on SH1, just south of Oamaru, yesterday and it was impassable, despite about two hours of pumping by the Weston fire brigade.
The water build-up was caused by blocked drainage.
North of Oamaru, SH1 was also closed by flooding north from Corbetts Rd.
Water levels were slow to drop and it remained closed last night.
The Waitaki District Council late yesterday had 24 roads listed as closed and another 28 flagged as requiring care because of surface water or slips.
Dansey Pass was also closed, because of snow.
Consumers on the Goodwood, Dunback, Awamoko, Lower Waitaki, Hampden/Moeraki, Herbert/Waianakarua, Maheno and Kauru Hill rural water schemes were being asked to conserve water after pumps were shut down because of poor water quality caused by flooded streams and rivers.
Seven roads in and surrounding low-lying areas were yesterday closed by the Clutha District Council.
They were Shakespeare and Dryden Sts, at the south end of Milton, North Branch Rd, Butts Rd, Table Hill Rd, Akatore Rd and Toko Mouth Rd, leading out to the coastal settlement.
Surface flooding and some slips had affected Back Rd, Bruce Rd, Finch Rd and Springfield Rd to the north of the town, while Limeworks Rd, Young Rd, Titri Rd and Taieri Ferry Rd were also affected by floodwaters.
Council communications co-ordinator Jamie Shaw said the roads were open but motorists should take extreme care as excavation machines were out clearing slips and other damage.
