Similar amounts of rain have fallen in the first 10 days of this month as fell in all of December in Dunedin.
However, a ‘‘lot more rain and a lot less wind'' is needed to lift Otago out of the dry conditions it has faced for the past three months, consultant hydrologist Dave Stewart warns.
In the first 10 days of this month, 45mm of rain had fallen in the city and 35mm at the airport. The December total rainfall was 45mm in the city and 45mm at the airport.
‘‘We've had reasonable rainfall and to some extent it is doing a good job, but it's still windy on the coast . . . so that is not terribly helpful.''
On the plus side, temperatures were cool so evaporation was not so high, he said.
Farmers from Dunedin airport northwards and in Central Otago would be very happy about the rainfall.
As a result of the rain, rivers had started to return to normal flows, even those in North Otago, he said. The Kakanui River at Clifton Falls was no longer on the Otago Regional Council's watchlist after a fresh of about 3.4cumecs went through it yesterday.
The Shag River was still on alert due to minimum flows.
It was raining on damp ground, meaning moisture would descend further into soil.
‘‘We could see some results out of it, especially as more rainfall is likely towards the end of the week.''
He hoped it would rain every three or four days and, if temperatures rose, farmers would get the heat needed to promote grass growth, he said.
Similar weather patterns - dry conditions before Christmas and wet January - had occurred before but had been followed by a dry February, Mr Stewart said.
Metservice predicts rain clearing in Dunedin later today and fine weather in the city tomorrow. Rain and southerlies are likely on Thursday.
