600 people are without water and power today after Roxburgh was hit by flooding.

Portaloos are being brought in to service the 600 people without toilets - and a large tanker has been set up at the local fire station to provide drinking water.

Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said it's unclear when water or power services would be working again.

His biggest concern is getting water to the township after the reservoir pipe was damaged.

Several homes were evacuated as a precaution after the localised event last evening, but were able to return home later last night.

Roxburgh and Millers Flat residents are being asked to conserve water until further notice.

State Highway 28 between Millers Flat and Alexandra is closed in both directions due to wash-outs and surface flooding.

The Central Otago District Council said further road inspections will take place this morning.

Vodafone and Spark cellphone networks remain out in certain areas and some landlines are down.

Roxburgh School is closed today, and police have asked all non-essential travel in and our of Roxburgh to be postponed or expect delays.

Meanwhile, staff on at least one Roxburgh fruit farm will have a later start to the day, until the water has dried off the crops.

Jered Tate of Jerry's Cherries was out on the tractor at dawn this morning, trying to blow water off his fruit and check for damage.

He's put off all orchard staff until the trees dry.

''We will probably have a bit of a look at the cherries to see if there is any we can salvage for our shop.''

Thunderstorms forecast for this afternoon are likely to miss Roxburgh though.

MetService Meteorologist Brian Mercer said it's a relatively fine day for the town, with a few showers this afternoon.

He said the storms will be further north.

''Central Otago and up through the Canterbury plains, and even as far as the main divide on the West Coast.''