Despite it being only two weeks into the month, Oamaru has already experienced more than twice the usual rainfall for August, 75.2mm falling between August 1 and 9am yesterday, and the wet weather has meant many market growers in the region have been unable to harvest potatoes in particular.
Meanwhile, the storm brought a welcome fall of snow to southern skifields over the weekend, Coronet Peak and the Remarkables receiving 10cm, Cardrona 15cm, Treble Cone 10cm and 5cm at both Snow Park and Snow Farm.
Brydone Growers co-owner Cushla Brophy, of Totara, said although carrots and broccoli could still be cut, it was too wet and muddy to dig potatoes and growers needed at least a week of dry weather before they could get back to digging them.
"It's not too bad in terms of the produce growing; it's just getting on to the soil that's the problem because it's very sticky.
"You have to stay off it as much as possible with the machinery.
"Out there in your gumboots you get loaded up, so it's hard going.
"We won't be out there digging potato and yams for a wee while."
However, co-owner Marty Quennell said the situation would not affect business long term.
"It's more of an inconvenience really - it just puts us behind a wee bit," he said.
Star and Garter restaurant owner Lisa Pope said tomatoes had already been taken off the menu because of their high price and a supply shortage, and her local potato supplier had expressed fears more heavy rain would mean he could not supply potatoes.
"We are pretty good at the moment, but it is a concern."
The MetService yesterday warned another 100mm of rain could fall in some parts of Otago and Canterbury last night and this morning, which would further dampen sodden ground.
Niwa senior climate scientist Georgina Griffiths said Oamaru had experienced 203% of the usual August rainfall in the first two weeks of the month. The normal rainfall for the month was 37mm, she said.
