Residents are waking up to more wet weather today in Canterbury.
There has been widespread surface flooding, and some residents were encouraged to evacuate last night as a precaution in case river levels rose.
All bridges across the Ashburton River including State Highway 1 overnight were closed due to the risks posed by flood debris.
Ashburton mayor Neil Brown and Selwyn mayor Sam Broughton spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
