Rain rather than snow a concern for Canterbury farmers

Farmers are worried about the amount of rain forecast to fall on top of already saturated paddocks.

About 50-100 millimetres of rain is expected to fall from Rakaia to Oamaru on Friday and Saturday.

Blue Skies Weather & Climate Services has forecasted heavy rain would combine with near gale southerly winds to create hazardous conditions for stock in Mid and South Canterbury, and also on Banks Peninsula.

On Wednesday, Southburn farmer and Federated Farmers meat and fibre president Miles Anderson expressed concern about the impending weather.

"It's the rain that is the worry here, rather than snow," he said.

After 14mm of rain fell on Monday the ground on his property was "saturated," he said.

"It's as if we had two inches of rain. As soon as it fell, the water just ran off the ground," he said.

"If we get the amount of rain they are talking about it will flood. It's tough for a lot of guys to get across paddocks to feed out and if we get this 60-70mm it will be bad news

"Despite this, the [ewe] scannings in the district have been good. There has been a good run through from December, and it sounds like a fair portion of the country had good scannings."

A deep low is slow moving just off the coast of Marlborough and North Canterbury today, directing a strong and moist south-east flow across the South Island.

Heavy rain is falling over parts of Canterbury and is expected to sink southwards into eastern Otago during the day. The heaviest falls are expected in Canterbury south of Arthurs Pass and about eastern Otago where up to 200mm of rain could accumulate through to Saturday morning.

Snow is likely to lower to 800 metres about the South Canterbury high country overnight.

Federated Farmers meat and fibre chairman for North Canterbury Dan Hodgen said he had not checked his rain gauge, but his neighbour had clocked 38mm since it started raining last night.

"The ground isn't saturated yet, and the rain is good to see. But if it keeps going at this rate it might be a different story.

"I can't see any snow on the mountains below 600m just yet. We've got plenty of feed and the stock are as good as gold."

Bill Wright said his farm at Cannondale, South Canterbury, was "completely saturated," and the wind was howling in from the south.

"We have had 7mm of rain in the last 24 hours. That's on top of 40mm two weeks ago and then another 15mm.

"The rivers aren't up yet, but it won't be long. The stock is in pretty good shape although not enjoying this obviously. But there is plenty of feed.

"We will have to start feeding the ewes if this keeps up, but they are looking alright."

Over the last 24 hours to midday Friday 22mm of rain had fallen at the Hurunui Bridge on State Highway 1, 31mm at the Ashley Gorge, 16mm at Kimbell, 11mm at Klondyke and 31mm at Geraldine Forest.