It came too late to help the area's corn and cotton farmers, missed some areas and did not break a crippling, two-year drought.
But the rainfall that swamped parts of the San Antonio area this week was welcomed by agricultural interests whose mood and pocketbooks have been battered by the one of the worst droughts ever.
While not enough rain to end the drought, agriculture experts say the moisture could persuade more growers to plant winter crops and could give a financial break to cattle ranchers who have been spending heavily on hay.
"Just seeing it can rain turns things around completely," said Jerry Verstraeten, who has farmed in Bexar County for 21 years.
Still, the rainfall didn't hit all the surrounding areas equally.
A forecaster with the National Weather Service in New Braunfels said an area northwest of Pearsall received almost 3.5 inches of rain in 75 minutes Thursday morning, and more than 5 inches of rain fell on the west side of New Braunfels through mid-afternoon.
San Antonio International Airport recorded 1.7 inches of rain through about 3 p.m., but Stinson Municipal Airport on the South Side received only about 0.13 inches of rain in the same period.
Dennis Hale, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agricultural agent in Wilson County southeast of San Antonio, called the rainfall "just a drop in the bucket" compared to what is needed to overcome the drought.
But it is a change, officials said. Ranchers who have watched stock tanks dry up and farmers trying to decide whether to plant winter wheat crops should feel a little more confident, they said.
"Any rain is appreciated right now," said Travis Miller, an agronomist with the extension service.
The biggest beneficiaries are probably ranchers who need water for their cattle, and who also need pastures to green up so they can quit paying so much for hay, which often has to be hauled in from out of state.
"This will give ranchers a break," said Jerry Warren, Bexar County agricultural extension agent.
Livestock graze on some of the winter wheat crops that farmers and ranchers will start to plant in the coming weeks. Those crops stand a better chance of growing with higher subsoil moisture levels. Thursday's rains should boost subsoil moisture, but officials know more rain will be needed.
It could even help farmers produce more cotton, corn and grain next year if rains continue through the fall, said John Robinson, an extension service economist who specializes is cotton markets.
"We have nothing in reserve down there," said Jamie Lopez the agricultural extension agent in Frio County. "A couple of days of rain is not enough. This is just a start."
Still, some growers who had not planned to plant oats and rye and other winter crops might be persuaded to plant now that the rains have started, said Horace Luensmann, manager of Producers Co-Op in New Braunfels.
"It gives people hope," said Luensmann, who also farms southwest of Seguin.