Rain this week was little more than a "dust dampener", Central Otago residents say.
Although much of Central Otago received its first good rain shower in four months earlier this week, the driest areas, parts of the Maniototo and the Teviot Valley, missed out.
Alexandra received 7.3mm of rain on Tuesday night, Naseby 9mm, Ranfurly 12mm, Cromwell 9mm, Poolburn 12mm, Clyde 9mm and Lindis Crossing 7mm.
Jolyon Manning, of Alexandra, who takes daily weather readings, said the rain was the first in Alexandra for six weeks.
"It's been a long, dry spell with high temperatures and strong winds, so anything is a relief, but we certainly need some more."
Lindis Crossing farmer Mark Davidson said 7mm was enough to give "a bit of respite from the dust" but that was about all.
Central Otago Principal Rural Fire Officer Owen Burgess said the total fire ban would remain in place, despite the rain.
"We'll take any rain we can get, but after a day of sun and some more strong winds, the fire risk will be just as high as it was before the rain.
"It makes little difference to the fire risk because it wasn't enough. It will take more than that before we'd look at lifting the prohibited fire season. And we need rain over a period of time, to sink into the soil."
Gimmerburn residents missed out and farmers said the area had received no significant rain since May, while Teviot Valley farmers are saying their rainfall records show it is the driest season for 86 years.
"We only got a sniff of rain this week, if that," Summerfruit New Zealand chairman Gary Bennetts, of Roxburgh, said.
Cherry growers would welcome a heavy downpour now, before the main export crop was ready to harvest, he said, rather than later on mid-harvest.
"It's been an unusually dry year and farmers in this area are telling me they've never seen it so dry."
