Rain should ease in sodden Otago and Southland

Heavy rain has caused flooding in some areas of Otago. Photo / Thinkstock

The wet weather in rain-drenched Southland and Otago looks set to ease, but police are asking people to take care on roads with several reports of flooding and trees down in the region.

Basements were flooded and roads closed in Otago last night as heavy rain hit the region.

The Fire Service attended 40 weather-related incidents overnight for mostly surface flooding and slips in and around Dunedin, but also in Oamaru and Temuka to the north, southern fire communications shift manager Karl Patterson said.

However, the weather system that spread the heavy rain across parts of Southland, Otago and Canterbury yesterday would slowly ease away to the north today, said MetService meteorologist Daniel Corbett.

"The main area of low pressure with this weather system is now moving north across the west coast of the North Island. The air is very unstable around the low and will bring the risk for thundery showers today across central and northern parts of the North Island from Manawatu up to Northland,'' he said.

In the past 24 hours Dunedin city received 80mm, compared to its monthly rainfall of 65.5mm.

Christchurch had its wettest day since August 17, with 2.8mm, Akaroa 37.8mm, Oamaru 70.6mm and Timaru 49.2, said Mr Corbett.

Police have responded to several weather-related reports today including surface flooding and trees down, on roads in North Otago and Canterbury.

In particular, the section of State Highway One between Rakaia and Chertsey in South Canterbury, has been affected flooding.

Police urged motorists to stay safe by driving to the weather and road conditions.

Three Mile Hill remained closed from Mosgiel to Dunedin this morning due to flooding, and State Highway 88 from Sawyers Bay to Port Chalmers due to a slip, Senior Sergeant Steve Aitken said.

However, the wet weather was good news for farmers, who needed the rain for continued grass growth.