Tom Westley made 163 as the weather was the only victor in Essex's LV= Championship clash with Gloucestershire at Chelmsford.
The 24-year-old became the county's first Championship centurion of the season before rain intervened yet again with the home side on 353-6.
Westley began day four on 82 and soon made it to three figures as he and Mark Pettini put on 95 for the fourth wicket.
But Pettini fell for 35 before lunch, lbw to Liam Norwell, but skipper James Foster joined the opening batsman to see through until the break.
Westley's 369-minute vigil was finally ended with the score at 307, caught behind off the bowling off Will Gidman.
Foster became the third Essex batsman to pass 50, but was then dismissed by Benny Howell, before the rain came down an hour after lunch, leaving no chance of a result.
Essex take eight points from the game, with Gloucestershire earning nine.
Essex's next game is another four-day affair, starting on Wednesday, at Northampton.
