State Highway 90 between Raes Junction and McNab, near Gore, remained closed yesterday evening, but it was expected to reopen today. The rain had stopped yesterday.
A Tapanui district farmer, Robert Kane (50), said last night about 100ha of his farm was under water.
On Thursday, melted snow caused some flooding and he realised more would follow, so on Thursday evening he moved about 2000 sheep and cattle to higher ground.
He was resigned to the aftermath of the flood, which would include removing a Kelso farmer's cut hay from his fences, saying he had spent his life beside the river.
"It's happened before and it will happen again".
Conical Hill farmer Andrew Morris used a jet-boat on Thursday to rescue lambs stranded under willows.
Yesterday, with the help of farm worker Bill Kirk, he was testing repairs necessary to the boat in case neighbours needed assistance.
It is understood a car driven by a young woman went into the water on the Tapanui side of the river on Thursday evening.
She was unhurt, but the car was still in the water yesterday.
No details were available last night.