Dangerous conditions are expected to hit Adelaide today as the city braces for a major soaking after one of its driest summers ever.A severe weather warning was in place overnight for the West Coast, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Eastern Eyre Peninsula, North West Pastoral, and parts of North East Pastoral regions in South Australia.
Thunderstorms are likely for Adelaide and parts of the state today and tomorrow, as a slow-moving pressure system in central Australia moves towards the east coast.
South Australia and Adelaide are braced for huge amounts of rain this weekend. (9News)
“Our current expectations that this weather warning here will be quite dynamic and also expand over the weekend, particularly into eastern parts of South Australia and down towards western Victoria,” the Bureau of Meteorology’s Jonathan How said yesterday.
The system could cause falls of up to 70 millimetres in six hours today, and 80 millimetres tomorrow.
Isolated totals of up to 150 millimetres to 200 millimetres are also possible.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that flash flooding is expected from the intense rain as a large tropical low finally shifts south over the weekend.
The state’s south-east is likely to be affected, with multiple flood warnings in place for the capital.
“Sunday night will be the main risk period for Adelaide and south-eastern parts of South Australia,” How said.
“Really, depending on where this trough and low-pressure system do sit, we can see Adelaide is on the edge of that heavier rain, but we could see flash flooding developing across the city as we head into Monday morning as well.”
How said that while the wet weather will be welcome for the dry parts of the state, it will also bring about new challenges.
“With heavy rain, that could lead to flash and river rain flooding and this could create dangerous travel, as well as driving conditions and number of roads and freight and trade lines are already impacted,” he said.
“For some parts of the south-east, this rain will be very welcome, particularly through western parts of Victoria and south-eastern parts of South Australia, but that will come with its challenges, including top soil, which may become washed away, as well as generalised flooding right across the region.”
How said the conditions will ease from Monday and then clear by Tuesday.
The system will move towards the east coast, affecting parts of Victoria and NSW.
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