Despite concerns about heavy rain and rising river levels in
the Otago region on Friday night, there was only minor
surface flooding and no damage done to property at the
weekend.
A MetService spokesman said between 30mm and 122mm of rain
fell as a southerly change drifted over the region - much of
it on Friday - and campers on the banks of affected rivers
were urged by the Otago Regional Council to move to higher
ground.
Farmers were also advised to move stock.
The Pomahaka River and the Kakanui River reached second level
flood warnings, and the Taieri River and Deep Stream reached
their first flood level warnings on Friday night. The Otago
Regional Council monitored the situation closely during the
weekend.
Rain was hitting parched ground and running off into rivers
rather than soaking in.
The heaviest rainfalls were at Piano Flat (120mm) and Hyde
Rock (122mm).
Rivers in the region peaked on Saturday.
However, regional council flood duty manager Tom Overton said
river levels had almost returned to normal yesterday
afternoon.
john.lewis@odt.co.nz
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