Senior Sergeant Brian Benn:

Southern District Police are asking motorists to avoid all non-essential travel and take extreme care if they must hit the road today.

Due to the weather hitting the region there are a large number of roads across the district which are closed or affected.

SH8 is closed between the Millers Flat Bridge and Scotland Street in Roxburgh due to flooding at Black Jacks Creek.

There are a number of slips and rock fall on SH8 between Clyde and Cromwell and SH6 between Cromwell and Queenstown.

There is also severe surface flooding across South Dunedin and a number of roads are closed.

Portsmouth Drive and Portobello Road are down to a single lane and high tide is expected around 5pm.

This means the flooding will still increase so we ask that people avoid these waterfront areas and riverbanks, particularly the Leith River in north Dunedin.

Traffic is also building up in central Mosgiel as Gordon Road is currently closed between Cargill Street and Factory Road due to surface flooding.

There are limited diversions so we ask that motorists stay away from this part of town.

The best way to keep yourself safe is to plan ahead if you must make a journey.

Check the roads you plan to use on the NZTA website and ensure you are prepared for delays.

If you are driving, remember to turn your lights on, increase your following distances and adjust according to the conditions.

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