While the district's farmers were delighted at the rain falling on their parched land, cherry growers were less enthusiastic.
Helicopters were out in fruit-growing areas on Saturday and again yesterday
morning, drying cherry trees after the steady rain eased off. The rainfall varied from about 20mm in Cromwell to about 30mm in Roxburgh.
Growers in the areas which received the most rain say it is too soon to gauge any damage to cherries.
However, the good news is there are still plenty around for Christmas.
Summerfruit New Zealand chairman and Roxburgh orchardist Gary Bennetts admitted yesterday he had yet to inspect his crop.
''I'm not game to look, at this stage ... I haven't gone into the cherry block to have a really close look at them.''
The weather had remained cold and windy after the rainfall, he said.
Stephen Jeffery, of Fairview Orchard, Roxburgh, said the temperature dropped to 2degC on Saturday night.
''That was a bit of a saviour, having cold weather. It means the cherries might not suck up too much moisture.''
''Things were looking good for the season - up until the rain. Most varieties had good crops so we're hoping we don't get too many more days of rain.''
It was probably too early to see the impact of the rain on the main crop, he said. Earnscleugh orchardist Harry Roberts agreed it was fortunate the weather was cold.
''This is always a worrying time for growers and cherry growers are on the edge of their seats if it rains.
''Big dollops of rain like this are just a bloody nuisance ... it's a heartache for growers.''
45 South owns and manages more than 150ha of orchards in Cromwell, which produce 30% to 40% of this country's export cherries.
Company manager Tim Jones said the trees had come through the 20mm of rain ''pretty unscathed''.
''It was significant rain, at any time of the year, for Central Otago, but we're almost between varieties and our volumes won't start peaking until the first week in January.
''If it doesn't crack the fruit, it will help boost the size of them.''
Mr Jones said about a quarter of the 175 tonnes of cherries harvested and packed at 45 South so far this season had been exported, mostly to Taiwan, China, Malaysia and Singapore.
Central Otago farmers contacted yesterday welcomed the rain.
Andrew Paterson, of Matakanui Station, at Omakau, said the 16mm which fell on his property was ''sorely needed''.
''This was the first decent rain since mid-November. All we need now is another good rainfall.''
How much?
48hr rainfall in Otago to noon yesterday
Ranfurly 48mm
Wedderburn 35mm
Balclutha 29mm
Oamaru airport 27mm
Alexandra 24mm
Dunedin city 22mm
Dunedin airport 17mm
Queenstown 17mm
Wanaka 7.6mm
