Invercargill received double its normal rainfall last month and there is more to come.
MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said the district had the wettest month of the year to date and was much wetter than average.
Invercargill city normally averaged 76.9mm during the first month of spring but 152mm of rain was recorded last month, including 20.4mm which drenched the city last Friday.
Lumsden had 172mm of rain last month — the highest rainfall figure for the past 20 years in the small town.
Manapouri exceeded last year’s record high of 193.2mm for September with a record 260mm and Gore’s rainfall was recorded at 142mm.
While Southland was being drenched it was also being buffeted by stronger winds than normal, Ms Makgabutlane said.
Winds averaged 44kmh or more in Invercargill and the city was slammed with 115kmh gusts on September 7.
Temperature data shows this year’s September was a little cooler than average in some areas and ‘‘generally one of the cooler Septembers of the last few years,’’ she said.
More heavy rain was set to fall on the province at times over the next week. But on Saturday and Sunday just isolated showers were likely.
Environment Southland hydrological response team leader Chris Jenkins said Southland river levels were falling yesterday morning but that would change when the forecast rain started.
The northern part of the region had the highest forecast rain with some snow expected down to 600m.
Environment Southland expected rainfall of about 2-3mm per hour which should not lead to large peak flows. It did expect rivers to be high, putting some on a high river watch, he said.
By Toni McDonald
