For farmers the big dry was "shaping up to be quite a mongrel'' but what a transformation in 10 days.
Persistent rainfall throughout most of Otago in the past fortnight has meant grass and crops have come away, providing hope for farmers struggling with drought.
There was good news in the forecast, too, with rain and showers expected up until the weekend.
Dunback farmer Ken Fergusson said the rain had "turned things around'' but stressed farmers were far from being back to normal.
"It was shaping up to be quite a mongrel,'' Mr Fergusson said.
"It's quite remarkable the transformation. It's like someone's just gone out with the green paint. The [grass] response was probably two or three days after the first decent rain.''
But the drought had come at a cost, Mr Fergusson said.
"The income's definitely going to be [less] ... having to sell store lambs and the prices we're getting for them. It just got dry so early. It's wet on top but it will take a while to get into the soil.''
Mr Fergusson had farmed 1800 ewes and 50 cattle at the 445ha property for eight years and prepared for the drought by selling stock in anticipation.
"We made the move early and got rid of the hoggets,'' he said.
The rain made a difference in the Maniototo, too.
Gimmerburn farmer Simon Paterson said the rain had allowed a little bit more freedom although he, too, wants more.
"We're not out of the woods but ... we'll get a bit better autumn,'' he said.
He had been forced to sell a quarter of his 2500 stock due to the dry.
Federated Farmers Otago provincial president Phill Hunt said the rain had been a "great relief'' to farmers but there was a long slog ahead.
"We're aware that we have a long way to go,'' Mr Hunt said.
"We're back on the track but we're certainly not on the track where we should have been. We're still a long way away.''
Mr Hunt said the dry summer had been a double blow to farmers, with the drought and low stock prices making for a tough season.
"If it goes from an abnormally dry summer to an abnormally wet summer, then yeah, we can get back to normal.''
Normality was no longer just a dream with more wet weather forecast.
MetService meteorologist Ciaran Doolin said North Otago had already had more rain than its average January mean although other Otago centres where statistics were monitored had not.
A front moving up the country today and the remnants of Cyclone Victor would bring rain and showers until Friday for most places, Mr Doolin said.
The rain had also helped to ease fire danger concerns, though more was needed before a fire ban in most of the region could be lifted.
Otago Rural Fire Authority deputy principal rural fire officer Graeme Still said some coastal areas of the province had seen a lot of rain but parts of Central Otago remained very dry.
"All areas were at the extreme [fire danger] level on certain days up until the end of last week.
"That started reducing around Wednesday last week.
"As we speak, we're looking at the fire season status ... but it takes a lot of rain to bring it [the fire danger] down into that moderate level.''
