Southland's emergency coordination centre has started preparing as more heavy rain hits the region.
MetService has an orange heavy rain in place for the region until midnight, with up to 80mm of rain expected on top of what has already fallen.
Emergency Management Southland group controller Lucy Hicks said they were monitoring the conditions and river levels, and working out what that might mean for the region.
The heaviest rain was expected to hit western and north-western Southland.
"We're focused on those areas that are expecting the most rain, but also that we know have caused us and the community some problems in the past."
That included the small community of Bluecliffs, which has been grappling with rapid erosion from the Waiau River and sea that claimed 3m of land in a day earlier this year.
"If we've got any additional concerns or information that comes once we've run the models in terms of what the Waiau flows are actually going to look like, we'll be liaising with them directly about advice and also keeping them abreast of what we're up to."
In an update this afternoon Hicks said that according to the latest information from the predicted rainfall models, river flows across Southland were not expected to cause any major issues.
"However, if rainfall exceeds predicted levels this may change."
Hicks said there may be some localised flooding on local streams as the rain makes its way into the larger catchments.
“While the rivers are yet to really respond to the rainfall, surface flooding may also still cause some challenges across the roading network.
“We encourage everyone to take care on the roads when driving around the region, and to avoid driving through any surface flooding if you come across it.”
Mayor hopeful
Southland District Mayor Rob Scott is hopeful his region will escape the heavy rain relatively unscathed, saying conditions on the ground are looking pretty good.
Scott said river levels were expected to peak around mid afternoon.
"It is raining and there's been quite a lot of rain but it is starting to look like it's going to start drying off soon and clearing up," Scott said.
"So we're kind of hoping that that's going to be the case.
"We've obviously got some communities that will be a little bit nervous based on some past flooding and events like this back in September. But so far, it's actually looking pretty good."
Staff would continue to monitor river levels and multiple, possibly more vulnerable areas for potential risks and act if the situation changed, he said.
Surface flooding possible in Clutha District
Some surface flooding is also possible in South Otago but the worst may not arrive until Saturday morning, Otago Regional Council manager science Tom Dyer said.
Low-lying areas around Balclutha, the lower Clutha delta and some paddocks bounding the Pomahaka River could be affected.
"Rain into the upper Clutha catchment will take some time to reach Balclutha, which is estimated to peak about 6am on Saturday," Dyer said.
"There could be flooding of areas near river banks, but well within the capacity of the floodbanked parts of the Lower Clutha Flood Protection and Drainage Scheme."
