Waters had also dropped below the Ponatahi Rd bridge out of Martinborough by yesterday morning, but sections of upstream handrails and posts were shattered and missing from debris banking up against them.
Amanda Ritchie, the owner of Martinborough Wine Centre on Kitchener St, said it had been very busy on Saturday even with the shocking weather.
She said when there was wine involved, people made the effort, taking the "scenic" way around to the store.
"I think some people were surprised by how much water was around but nobody complained about having to take detours."
On Friday, despite flooding and closed roads, Tora residents Doug Harris and Sara Murphy managed to get their daughter, Maddie, to Wellington to catch a flight to South Africa.
Saturday's Times-Age described how Rathkeale student Maddie Harris Murphy was set to go on a school geography trip but was stuck at Tuturumuri where the road had flooded.
"She was very upset at that stage," Mr Harris said.
But she made it to her flight, thanks to the help of farmers Hamish Sims and Andy Mathewson, he told the Times-Age yesterday.
The family went across the flooded road by boat, with two neighbours picking them up on quad bikes on the other side and driving out via Kahutara Rd.
Mr Harris said he was very thankful to the two men who risked a lot to get Maddie on her way.
Mr Harris said they were committed to getting Maddie on the flight.
"It was either that or spend two weeks with a very grumpy girl," he said.
Yesterday Met Service issued a severe weather watch saying there could be severe gale southerlies in Wairarapa yesterday and today.
It also predicted snow on the Rimutaka Hill on last night with snow down to 300 metres.
