The headwaters of the Taieri and Manuherikia rivers hit their first flood warnings yesterday morning, reaching 115cumecs and 140cumecs respectively, before starting to drop.
As the rain went down the catchment the Taieri River at Sutton hit its first flood warning and late yesterday the Shag River at The Grange also hit its first alert.
Otago Regional Council environmental information and science director John Threlfall said the rain had eased in the eastern hill ranges yesterday afternoon and the rivers started dropping before they reached significant levels.
About 50mm of rain fell in the headwaters of the Manuherikia during the weekend.
Along the coast, in the 24 hours to 4pm yesterday, Dunedin received 25.8mm, Dunedin airport 21.4mm, Sullivans Dam 57mm and Oamaru airport 19.6mm.
Inland rainfall levels mostly failed to reach 10mm.
Mr Threlfall said the rain had also caused the Silver Stream to rise to a peak of 45cumecs and the Water of Leith to rise to 13cumecs before dropping.
"It's very typical for this time of year. With a combination of snow melt and drizzly rain, everywhere is very saturated."
MetService forecaster Sarah Sparks said in Otago some rain or drizzle was to continue this morning with fine spells this afternoon.
Central Otago farmers welcomed the rain.
Jim McDiarmid, who lives in Ranfurly and has a farm near Oturehua, said there had been "water everywhere over the last couple of days".
A combined total of 31mm fell in Ranfurly on Saturday and Sunday nights, while his farm at Oturehua received close to 50mm over the corresponding period, he said.
