15 August 1100 hours
ORC staff continuing to monitor Otago river levels
ORC rainfall sites in the Otago region have recorded between 50mm and 200 mm over the past three days.
MetService predicts that rainfall will begin to ease later this afternoon, although showers may persist in some areas
until midnight tonight.
On the Taieri Plain, the Silver Stream has responded to the persistent rainfall, peaking at 107 cumecs at 7pm yesterday
and is now at 37 cumecs.
The Taieri River at Outram is currently 430 cumecs (as of 10am today) and is expected to peak at between 450 and 500
cumecs later this afternoon. This is well below our third alarm level of 725 cumecs.
In Dunedin, the Water of Leith peaked at 40 cumecs at 6pm last night. The first flood warning level for the Leith is 55
cumecs.
Rivers in North Otago peaked last night and are slowly receding. The Shag River peaked at 174 cumecs at midnight and is
now at 115 cumecs, while the Kakanui River at Clifton Falls also peaked at 340 cumecs at midnight last night and is now
at 120 cumecs.
It is expected that the Shag, Kakanui, and Waianakarua Rivers will continue to subside throughout the day.
River level and rainfall information can be checked on the ORC water info webpage www.orc.govt.nz/waterinfo or by phoning 0800 426 463
ENDS