Monday, 03 February 2020 10:59

Farmers share extent of South Island rain

Written by Staff Reporters

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A webcam image taken this morning of Milford Road on SH94. Photo: NZTA Otago/Southland @NZTAOS on Twitter.

Significant rainfall battered parts of the South Island overnight, prompting some farmers to share videos on social media.

The rainfall was especially heavy overnight in Westland, causing power disruptions and forcing some roads to close, reports West Coast Emergency Management.

The New Zealand Transport Agency Otago/Southland @NZTAOS also reports heavy rain in Fiordland, with Milford Road on SH94 now closed.

UPDATE: 9:00 AM
SH94 Milford Rd is expected to remain CLOSED until Tuesday as heavy rain is not expected to ease, An update is expected at 1 pm. ^JPhttps://t.co/3e7GuGJNGd pic.twitter.com/zMoydncBQb
— NZTA Otago/Southland (@NZTAOS) February 2, 2020

An up-to-date report of road closures can be found here.

The bad weather is set to continue, with MetService issuing a heavy rain warning for Westland, Fiordland, Southland and Clutha, and parts of Canterbury and Otago.

Some farmers have shared the extent of the rain on Twitter.

In one video, Southland farmer Bruce @fairleigh_ag reveals a large pond that developed on his farm within just one hour.

She's a bit #moist pic.twitter.com/u9kHgAEk1j
— ?? Bruce ?? (@fairleigh_ag) February 2, 2020

In another one, West Coast farmer and Federated Farmers president, Katie Milne @ktmilne6 reveals the high humidity the region is experiencing from the rain.

https://t.co/PVvwcjBE7d
— Katie Milne (@ktmilne6) February 2, 2020

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