Metservice has this morning lifted a heavy rain warning for Otago, which will be welcomed by many after the soaking the region received over the past couple of days.
However, rain is still falling in some places and several roads remain closed.
Dunedin's hills bore the brunt of the rainfall, with Pine Hill receiving 120mm in the 24 hours to 10pm yesterday. Rainfall throughout the region tended to range from 30mm to 70mm.
Rivers in the region had breached flood warning levels after more rain fell in Dunedin in 24 hours than usually falls in the month of February, and while most are higher than normal today, many are falling and returning to normal.
The Taieri River at Outram peaked at 214 cubic metres (just above its first flood warning level) and is expected to slowly recede today.
The lower Pomahaka is expected to peak at close to 565 cumecs this morning, while the lower Clutha is at 968 cumecs and rising. It is expected to reach its first flood warning level of 1140 cumecs sometime today.
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Rain has continued in some areas this morning and the Clutha District Council advises of the following road closures:
Milton Area: Toko Mouth Road, Elliotvale Road; Clinton/Clydevale Area: Pomahaka River Road, Ross Road, McFarlane Road; Catlins Area: Papatowai Highway at Gibbs Hills, Kaikaku School Road, Puketiro Road; West Otago Area: Koi Flat Road, Beatties Road.
Akatore Road is now open but care is required. Table Hill Road and Bruce Road have surface flooding and caution is urged.
In northern Southland, Ellis Road and Pyramid Bridge Road are closed and will remain so overnight. Waiparu Road, near Freshford, is only passable in a four-wheel-drive. Southland District Council urges drivers to take extreme care throughout the Waikaia area because of flooding.
As well as swelling rivers yesterday, the rain from a swift-moving low caused minor disruptions on roads and farms and major disruptions at Dunedin International Airport.
About 25 tourists were trapped at a camping ground near Hampden as a nearby creek rose, cavalcaders had to down saddles and the flight plans of thousands were upset by delays, cancellations and diversions.
Temperatures varied dramatically during the day, with Oamaru clearing to 20degC by 5pm, but Dunedin remaining in the rain on 13degC.
Dunedin airport recorded Otago's highest official rainfall total in the 24 hours to 5pm, reaching 60.8mm, followed by Balclutha (59.6mm) and Oamaru (52.5mm).
Dunedin received 47.4mm, Alexandra 46.8mm and Queenstown 44.4mm.
Metservice meteorologist Daniel Corbett said the last time Dunedin received that much rain in one day was on October 16 last year, when 69mm was recorded.
The normal rainfall for the month of February is 57mm.
At Dunedin International Airport, four flights in or out of Dunedin were cancelled, three were diverted to airports including Invercargill and Christchurch, and an Air New Zealand flight from Dunedin to Wellington was turned back after it was struck by a flock of seagulls converging at water on the runway shortly before 7am.
Otago Girls' High School principal Jan Anderson, who was on the flight, said she was frightened when the plane slowed just as it was about to take off.
" ...the plane braked suddenly and there was a terrible smell of hot brakes and burnt seagull. There was no loud bang - nothing like that."
An Air NZ spokeswoman said the 737-300 aircraft was operating again in the afternoon after being checked by engineers.
Normal flights resumed in the afternoon, although some passengers were rebooked for today.
The Otago Regional Council urged farmers with stock near rivers to be vigilant as levels rose.
The Kakanui River and the Water of Leith peaked earlier in the day. The Pomohaka River at Leith Glen reached 521cumecs, its highest flow since February 1994, flooding paddocks near the Kelso Bridge in Greenvale Rd.
The lower Pomohaka River was expected to peak about 2am.
A watch remained on the Taieri and Shag Rivers. Both were expected to reach their first flood warnings late last night.
At Trotter's Gorge, near Hampden, about 25 tourists were trapped in a Department of Conservation-run camp after two Trotter's Creek fords became impassable.
Neighbouring property owner Steve Kelly said he and another man were busy last night using 4WDs and trailers to pull out the vehicles of people trying to leave.
Doc had erected warning signs after flooding three years ago, on February 23, 2009, but those signs were not easily visible, he said.
None of the tourists was in danger, just cold and, in some cases, a bit wet. The men had delivered food to those having to spend another night at the camp.
The rain also led to road closures, surface flooding, minor slips and flooded properties around Otago.
In Central Otago, orchardists expressed concern about late-variety crops, although the full extent of the damage would not be known until the rain stopped.
Most of the rain was expected to have passed by late last night, but Mr Corbett said another front was expected today, followed by showers and gusty southwesterlies over the weekend, with temperatures around 17degC.
Monday should finally bring clear skies and warmer weather.
