Downpour leaves roads awash, sewers struggling

and warm. It’s in full use, it’s chocker block,’’ Cleaver said.

‘‘There are a few sewage issues, and a burst main, but we’re making it work.’’

She said motorists who were headed north were waiting it out until the road reopened.

Local businesses were quick to help out, providing food for those waiting for the road to reopen, Cleaver said.

‘‘The Seddon community is stepping up like it always has.’’

The council’s daily rain report, at 3pm yesterday, showed there had been more than 65.4mm of rain in Blenheim Central, 107.5mm in Flaxbourne, 108mm in Onamalutu and 77mm in Rarangi.

The heavy rain also meant the sewerage systems in Blenheim and Seddon were at full capacity. By noon, residents were being asked not to flush toilets in Blenheim and Seddon. Picton, Renwick and Havelock’s sewer systems weren’t impacted.

Yesterday’s deluge came nearly a year on from one of Marlborough’s worst floods on record – which caused mass evacuations, stopbank breaches, multiple roading failures, and landslides across the region.

The storm on July 17 last year put Marlborough into a state of emergency.

It caused 1600 faults in Marlborough’s

roading network, estimated at more than 100km of road, half of which were in the Marlborough Sounds. Meanwhile, in Blenheim, the rain yesterday wasn’t an excuse to sit inside all day for one family.

Darren, who didn’t want to give his last name, had his three children – Skye, 11, Ebony, 7, and Logan, 5 – out for a spot of kayaking and paddleboarding around Dillon St and Leefield St.

‘‘When it’s raining like this, you don’t want to leave the kids on screens all day, so why not get wet and have some fun,’’ he said.

Logan said he enjoyed kayaking in the rain, but was ready to go inside, saying ‘‘it’s freezing’’.