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Roads and bridges in central Otago have been closed due to flooding from heavy rains. In the photo: Scotts Lane.
Warnings for heavy rain and thunderstorms have expired, but the effects of three days of wild weather continue in the lower South Island.
Four state highways and dozens of other highways remain closed in Otago and Waitaki and people in several cities are advised to boil water.
Rain gauges and rain radar showed heavy downpours in the 36 hours to midnight Saturday with a “significant number” of places registering 100 millimeters to 200 millimeters in that period. Hundreds of lightning strikes were also recorded throughout the region.
A rain gauge between Dunedin and Ōamaru registered 214 mm.
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According to the Waka Kotahi NZ Transportation Agency, SH90 was still closed between Waikoikoi and Tapanui due to Monday night flooding, while SH87 was closed from Kyeburn to Middlemarch due to a collapse on the Kokonga Bridge.
SH83 between Otematata and Aviemore and SH82 from Kurow to Ikawai were closed due to flooding.
All fords in the Waitaki district were off-limits after a car trying to cross one was swept into a river.
Waimate District Council Executive Director Stuart Duncan said the storm flooded the council building, library and shops along the city’s main street, dumping sediment and debris on the trails.
Residents and visitors of Ranfurly, Naseby, Patearoa in Central Otago were recommended to boil their water, as were those of several settlements in Waitaki, including Otematata, Duntroon, Bushy Creek and Ōhau, and those of private water plans from Tokarahi and Windsor.
Xavier Radic / Supplied
Heavy flooding blocked one of the Piano Flat roads in Southland.
The Otago Central District Council said there was a large amount of sediment in the water due to recent heavy rains and that it could not pass through the filter systems, so it could not treat the water.
Drinking water tanker trucks had been brought in, but a Naseby resident was fed up with the state of the city’s water supply.
Liz Ellis, who has lived in Naseby for six years, said she had not been able to shower for three days.
“I’m a little stink bomb rolling.”
He said the water was disgusting and looked like “watery diarrhea,” although the color was starting to improve Monday.
“You can’t wash your clothes in it.
“It is a basic human right to have clean water.”
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Floods hit the South Island over the long weekend, as waves can be seen on the road in Whangamata.
Most of the Southland river levels were falling Monday, except in areas at Seaward Downs, Gorge Road, Fortrose and Tokanui.
Southland Emergency Management group controller Angus McKay said it took 18 hours for large volumes of water to pass through river systems, coming from north Southland and out the south coast in the Catlins area.
“We have a lot of water going into the system, although it is much better in the far north, it has yet to come out.”
Low roads at Gorge Road, Fortrose, Tokanaui and other areas could see more flooding Monday, he added.
MetService meteorologist Andy Best said the weather was expected to be “mostly cloudy” on Tuesday with the possibility of overnight rain in the lower South Island, ahead of “hot spells” on Wednesday. Christchurch was expected to remain dry on Tuesday and Wednesday.
