MEDIA ADVISORY
11 April 2017 1615hrs
Heavy rain likely to push up Otago rivers
The Otago Regional Council is keeping an eye on river levels in light of a severe weather warning issued by MetService
today.
Heavy rain is expected in eastern Otago from around 3am tomorrow to 6am Thursday morning, with 80mm to 120mm forecast to
fall during this period at a maximum rate of 15mm an hour.
Otago gets a rain event of this scale about once a year, and the predicted rainfall is about half the amount that fell
in the June 2015 floods.
Most of the rivers and streams in eastern Otago – particularly the Shag, Water of Leith (and Lindsay Creek), Silver
Stream, Tokomairiro, and Pomahaka rivers are expected to rise from tomorrow. Later in the event the Taieri River at
Outram is likely to be high.
Based on current forecasting, rivers and flood channels should be able to safely contain the rainfall.
South Dunedin groundwater levels are currently not high but are likely to rise during or after the event.
People are advised to keep up to date with the latest weather forecast (via MetService) and river levels.
Otago Regional Council has a 24 hour duty flood manager monitoring river and lake levels. Information on river and lake
levels is also available on ORC’s WaterInfo website http://water.orc.govt.nz/ or through the Flow phone on 0800 426 463.