''Things are looking up a bit now,'' Wedderburn farmer Graeme Duncan said.
''The 35mm we received on Saturday night means we've had 60mm this month and it's good rain. We need it.''
It was the driest January in 60 years so the February rainfall would have to make up for the lack of rain at the start of the year, Mr Duncan said. Rain fell throughout the district. In the 24 hours until noon yesterday, Alexandra received 24.3mm, Lauder 20mm, Ranfurly 35mm and Roxburgh 10mm.
Ranfurly Chief Fire Officer James Hazlett said there was surface flooding in the town after a heavy downpour about 7pm on Saturday.
Floodwaters came close to the front entrance of a John St business, prompting a call to the brigade. The fire crew was able to lift the grating on a nearby drain, allowing water to drain away.
''We certainly had very heavy rain in a short space of time ... I discovered where I need new spouting on my own home, too,'' Mr Hazlett said. A thunderstorm cut power to several homes between Alexandra and Clyde on Saturday night.
Thunder rattled windows in homes and power was cut briefly during several lightning strikes about 8.45pm. A MetService spokesman said the front came through on Saturday afternoon in a narrow band, dropping its heaviest falls in mostly inland areas in Otago.
''Not everyone got it.''
That was highlighted by coastal areas receiving much less rain. Balclutha recorded 13mm, Oamaru 3mm, Dunedin airport 10.3mm and Dunedin city 3.8mm.
It is expected to be dry and hot for the next few days, especially inland - Alexandra is expected to reach 29degC today - before the next frontal system hits the South Island on Wednesday.
The rainfall in Central Otago meant most rivers rose above their minimum flows, although by last night the Taieri River at Sutton had already dropped back to its minimum flow, restricting irrigation in that stretch of the river.
The lack of rain in North Otago meant there was still an alert on the Kakanui River at Mill Dam.
