After low rainfall for the past three Februaries, last month bucked the trend, with 165mm falling at Musselburgh - the fourth highest amount in the month since records began in 1918.
The highest was 178.7mm in 1986, National Institute of Weather and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) figures show.
The only other February since 2000 to record rainfall to rank in the top 25 since records began was in 2005, when 116.8mm fell.
The other record rainfalls for February occurred in 1932, when 172.6mm fell (3rd highest), and in 1991, when 178.3mm fell (second highest).
Otago Daily Times rainfall recorders also reported high rainfall for the month, with Balaclava recording 210mm (up 280% on average and the highest since 1976) and Northeast Valley recording 285mm, which compared with 79mm in 2008 and 28mm in 2007.
Dunedin's average rainfall for February was 63.2mm, so it is usually a low-rainfall month.
Climate scientist Dr Andrew Tait said the different weather pattern resulted from higher than normal pressure to the southwest of the country and more "lows" than normal to the east, which resulted in more southerly airflows on to the South Island than normal for this time of year, contributing to cool temperatures.
While heatwave conditions were experienced over much of New Zealand in early February, the average for the month of 17.5degC was 0.3degC below average for the time of year.
Record-low average maximum daily temperatures in Otago were experienced in Musselburgh, which recorded 16.3degC (down 2.6degC), Oamaru with 16.9degC (down 3.7degC), Balclutha with 16.6degC (down 3.4degC) and Gore with 16.4degC (down 2.9).
Cromwell reached a record extreme daily minimum air temperature of 23.3degC on the 9th, while Wanaka reached its second highest with 19.6degC the same day.
The lowest temperature in the country was -1degC on the 14th at Ranfurly, while Dunedin airport recorded its third lowest daily low of 1.9degC on the 11th.
Rainfall was more than double the usual in much of the North Island, Canterbury and Otago.
Most of the country experienced below normal sunshine, he said.
The only town in Otago other than Dunedin to experience significant rainfall in February was Cromwell, which received its fourth highest rainfall - 64mm, 200% of normal.
Correspondingly the town also had its second lowest amount of sunshine at 190 hours, while Dunedin had 123 hours, 80% of normal.
Near-record extreme wind gusts of 107kmh were recorded at Gore on the 8th, the second highest recorded since 1987.
Niwa's March to May outlook was for near-average air temperatures, normal rainfall and lighter winds than normal for the South Island.
