More heavy rain on way for flood-hit south

More heavy rain is on the way for parts of the South Island recovering from flooding at the weekend.

MetService said the amount of rain today could be significant for areas already affected by the heavy rain, and the areas affected were Otago, South Westland and South Canterbury.

🟨A Heavy Rain Watch🟨 has been issued for parts of Otago and Canterbury Hill Country. https://t.co/qHyE5zhh6X

Risk of heavy rain 5pm to 11pm, could cause issues in recently flooded areas.
Video also shows next front affecting South Island Thursday and North Island Friday ^TA pic.twitter.com/RUwHvIDf6r

— MetService (@MetService) January 4, 2021

The Otago Regional Council said this afternoon a heavy rain watch currently in place was likely to impact most significantly on the Manuherekia and Kakanui Rivers.

The rain watch, which applies to Central Otago, North Otago and Dunedin, sees 20-40mm of rain expected this afternoon and tonight.

The Manuherekia River could rise significantly, exceeding flows reached over the weekend, the ORC said.

While flows in the Kakanui River are also likely to increase, they are expected to remain well under the weekend's peak flows.

Rivers remain high across much of the rest of Otago; most have receded significantly and are not expected to rise significantly tonight.

Ahead of the expected rainfall, ORC staff and contractors have been working today alongside local authorities to clear debris and blockages, with a focus on Middlemarch and the Maniototo.

At the Taieri River floodbank near Otokia, the breach has been stabilised and monitoring continues.

A front, preceded by a northerly flow, moves on to the lower South Island from the Tasman Sea during this afternoon, then work its way slowly north, before weakening tomorrow morning.

The front is expected to bring a period of rain to southern New Zealand, briefly heavy in the west, with persistent falls likely about eastern areas for a time, which may be significant for areas vulnerable from previous flooding.

From 5pm until 11pm today, rain was expected for Dunedin, north of the city, as well as Central Otago, North Otago and South Canterbury, south of Tekapo and Temuka from 5pm until 11pm today.

In Westland, south of Harihari, there would be a period of rain, with some heavy falls about the ranges from 3pm today until 3am tomorrow. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria, especially about the ranges.

Another period of rain was likely to develop tomorrow night or early Thursday morning, and heavy falls were possible on the West Coast.