Rain in and around Christchurch has significantly eased overnight, with MetService predicting Thursday will be a relatively normal day, weather-wise.
A number of streets in the city remain closed however, after some parts of the region recorded rainfall in the triple-figures on Wednesday and the Avon River burst its banks.
Environment Canterbury monitoring sites in Rosy Morn, Hurunui State Highway 1 and Kainga Yard recorded more than 100mm of rain - two months' worth in less than 24 hours.
Heavy downpours were also recorded at Clinton Ridge, Shingle Fan, Luke Creek, Lowry Hills, Cust Main Drain, Lower Styx and Duvauchelles at Akaroa. Canterbury Weather Updates reported some spots receiving more than 200mm, but the sun was out in Kaikoura early Thursday morning.
A MetService spokesperson told Newshub the heavy rain warning for the region expired at 6am, with the rain easing off overnight. While more is likely to fall through the day, it'll be on and off.
Selwyn District Council said people in Springfield should conserve water, while Hurunui District Council closed all its fords overnight, telling residents to "stay put if you can" and avoid unnecessary driving.
The Avon burst its banks near the Thomas Edmonds Band Rotunda and Victoria Square, local media reported. The Earthquake Memorial steps also found themselves underwater.
Christchurch City Council on Thursday morning said a number of streets would be closed - some due to flooding, others the risk of slips. It also urged residents to not put their rubbish bins out on Wednesday evening, and to hold off having showers and flushing toilets until Thursday morning.
Streets closed include:
- River Rd, from Medway St to Banks Avenue.
- Avonside Dr, from Linwood Avenue to Stanmore Rd.
- Oxford Terrace, from Kilmore St to Willow St.
- Marlow Rd, from Pages Rd to Rowses Rd.
- Breezes Rd, from Eglington St to Niven St.
- Roswes Rd, from Esk Place to Guernsey St.
- Maces Rd, from Ruru Rd to Wickham St.
- Avondale Rd, from New Brighton Rd to Niven St.
- Newport St, from Wainoni Rd to Emlyn St.
- Avonside Dr, from Wainoni Rd to Emlyn St.
- Carrick St, from Aylesford St to Flockton St.
- Thornton St, from Flockton St to Aylesford St.
- Harrison St, from Thornton St to Aylesford St.
- Long Bay Rd, from Paua Bay, is closed due to slips.
- Le Bons Bay Rd, from Le Bons Bay Valley Rd
- Goughs Rd, from Long Bay Rd
- Little Akaloa Rd is closed due to flooding.
Environment Canterbury said late on Thursday further flooding wasn't expected, with the rain easing and river levels dropping.
But Edgeware butchery Peter Timbs Meats was flooded overnight. Store manager David Timbs told RNZ he arrived at 4am to start the clean-up.
"It's looking a lot better than it did first thing this morning," he said. "There was a layer of debris through the shop and it's looking reasonably good now."
He said it appears the water reached about knee-height, but most of it had already washed out when he arrived, and they'd be open for business as usual. It's the busiest time of year, Timbs said, and after various COVID-related restrictions and having to shut early on Wednesday, he's hoping for a big day.
"It's dragging you down… every time it happens it's a lot of stress on everyone."
Timbs suspects there's a drainage problem in the area.
"We can only take so much more of it. It's not a one-off event - it's been happening year after year after year."
