Persistent rain ''on already saturated ground'' in the South has taken a toll on Clutha roads.
Three Catlins roads were closed yesterday - Mouats Saddle Rd, near Tahakopa, was closed because of a slip, nearby Puketiro Rd was also closed and Cannibal Bay Rd, from Ahuriri flat to the beach, remained closed because of a slip that occurred last week.
Clutha District Council communications co-ordinator Rachel Askew said surface flooding and high river levels were affecting West Otago roads, while slips were affecting roads in South Otago.
At the weekend, five roading crews were used at different stages - at times until midnight - to clear roads, and at 5pm yesterday there were four digger crews clearing roads in the district, after a weekend of rain.
The council had been monitoring Mouats Saddle Rd for the past 18 months, before the slip occurred this weekend. Further investigations were being carried out.
''At this stage we don't know if it was caused by the rain or instability under the road.
''It kind of looks like one lane could be open and a car could fit through there, but it's all blocked off - we don't want anyone to use it because it could come down.''
The council is warning drivers to be cautious.
''There is currently surface flooding and lots of slips on roads, mainly in West Otago, Pomahaka, Popotunoa, Clinton and the Catlins.''
The MetService reported 9mm of rain at the Cairn in the 24 hours to 9am yesterday, 6mm at Waipahi and 9mm at Nugget Point.
However, over the weekend, 16mm fell at Nugget Point, 30mm at Balclutha, 82mm at Lochindorb and 86mm at the Cairn.
The rain fell mostly on Saturday.
There were no reports of Clutha roads closed north of the Clutha River.
