The worst of Otago flooding is now over but for South Island farmers, an icy winter is heading their way.

The severe weather warning has been lifted but snow or sleet is now hitting parts of the South Island and there are plenty of roading problems still being sorted from the deluge of rain.

The Temuka River north of Timaru has now dropped and that means the Manse bridge is safe. But parts of State Highway One near Oamaru remain closed as authorities wait for river levels to drop and flood waters to recede.

Many rural water supplies remain shut down and people are being asked to conserve water.

The Otago Regional Council warns that the flood risk will remain high on the Taieri Plains south of Dunedin, for several days.

With the rain still coming down in South Canterbury, farmer Neil Campbell, a sheep,  beef and deer farmer near Fairley says the rural clean up is underway with farmers taking the changing weather in stride.