This morning at 9am Lake Wakatipu dropped below the first flood warning level, after eight days in the enhanced monitoring zone, Queenstown Lakes District Council spokeswoman Meaghan Miller said.

"The first flood warning level, which is an agreed level between the Otago Regional Council and ourselves, was reached just over a week ago but as of this morning the lake has dropped beneath that level," Ms Miller said.

Lake Wakatipu peaked on Friday last week without any threat of flooding.

"The lake has been relatively slow to drop, due to the effect of snow melt but the last two days has seen it steadily taper off," she said.

This morning the lake dropped below the warning level of 310.8m and was continuing to drop but further rain could see the warning zone reached again over the weekend.

"The ORC has advised forecast showery weather may act to push the lake back up into the warning zone but at this stage there is nothing of concern showing in the forecast," Ms Miller said.

The Metservice had forecast 15mm of rain for the catchment.

"Certainly nothing like the amount needed to push the lake back up to the level at which it peaked (311.1m) last week," she said.

ENDS

For further information please contact Meaghan Miller 03 4410499.

By: Sarah