Canterbury river levels Oct 19, 2011 – Update 2.30pm

A number of foothills and lowland rivers around Christchurch rose sharply today with the downpour of rain. Environment Canterbury river engineers and flood controllers have been monitoring the rises and keeping landowners informed.

The Selwyn River/Waikirikiri at the Whitecliffs measuring site, was close to 80 cumecs (cubic metres of water per second) after 1 pm today. Farmers with stock near the river were advised this afternoon to move them.

The Halswell River will peak this afternoon and may remain high overnight, said Environment Canterbury Regional Engineer Ross Vesey.

The heaviest rain in some weeks has seen small towns like Little River with surface flooding and nearby rivers like the Kaituna rise sharply.

The Ashley River/Rakahuri was close to 300 cumecs, its highest in more than a year. North Canterbury’s Okuku River at Fox Creek similarly was rising to 200 cumecs early afternoon.

River flows should return to normal over the next few days with rain easing, said Ross Vesey.

South/Mid Canterbury update – rain eased, rivers dropping

Rain stopped in South Canterbury about 8.00am this morning with rainfall totals recorded in the foothills between the Rangitata and Waitaki Rivers of 70-100mm over the last 24 hours.

Most of the rivers reached light to moderate fresh levels this morning and are now dropping. No problems or damage to river systems have been reported or are expected, said Phil Lees, Environment Canterbury flood controller.

As a result of short periods of intense rain over the last 24 hours there was quite a bit of surface flooding but this is receding quickly, said Philip Lees, Environment Canterbury flood controller. The Met Service is not forecasting any more rain at this stage.