Adelaide forecast: Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit

A cold front is set to lash the state today with up to 45mm of rain expected to fall in 48 hours. The first showers are expected to hit Adelaide late morning, getting heavier in the afternoon.

Despite glorious sunshine in Adelaide on Tuesday a deluge of rain and possible thunderstorms are set to lash the state on Wednesday.

Tuesday was the perfect washing day with blue skies and sunshine – but up to 30mm of rain is now sweeping across the state. Showers are expected in Adelaide in the late morning with the deluge due to hit between 2pm and 3pm, followed by thunderstorms in the evening.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has now been archived – head here for the latest updates on this weather event

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Jenny Horvat said the major low pressure system would arrive from the west.

“The positioning of that system will depend where the heavier falls are, but we have got the potential to see some significant rainfall coming across the metropolitan area (Wednesday) and overnight into Thursday,” she said.

Wet weather on King William St, city. Picture: Roger Wyman

“We could start to see a little bit of activity from late morning (Wednesday) but it really looks like as we head into the afternoon and evening period, that will be when the rain starts to intensify.

“We couldn‘t rule out some thunderstorm activity as well on Wednesday, probably most likely later in the afternoon or into the evening period.”

Ms Horvat said most areas in the city and hills should expect falls between 10-20mm on Wednesday, with heavy falls of 30mm not out of the question.

ADELAIDE WEATHER FORECAST

Wednesday: 18C, rain and possible heavy falls (20-30mm)

Thursday: 16C, showers (10-15mm)

Friday: 16C, showers easing (3-6mm)

Saturday: 15C, possible shower (0-1mm)

Sunday: 15C, shower or two (0-1mm)

Monday: 16C, partly cloudy

PORT LINCOLN WEATHER FORECAST

Most rain on Wednesday (8-15mm) with a maximum of 18C

MOUNT GAMBIER WEATHER FORECAST

Most rain on Thursday (20-30mm) with a maximum of 16C

PORT AUGUSTA WEATHER FORECAST

Most rain on Wednesday (20-30mm) with a maximum of 23C

SA FLOOD WARNING

South Australia could have potential flooding in certain regions as the Bureau of Meteorology closely monitors it.

“With the heavier totals, if it comes down quick there’s a potential for some localised flooding,” Ms Horvat said.

“We‘ll have a look at the potential for some riverine flooding, but some local street or river ice is not out of the question.”

James Dickson and Holly Allen from New Zealand with their niece Lily from Adelaide at Semaphore Beach. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

ADELAIDE SPRING WEATHER

Adelaide had a chilly start to spring, recording its coldest day in more than a month on the first day of the new season.

At 5.30am last Thursday, temperatures dropped to 3.9C, which was last recorded at the West Tce weather station on July 29.

Areas to the north of the state also recorded low temps including Roseworthy, at -. 9C and Ceduna at -.3C.

Last week the bureau warned that half of Australia will very likely face a cold and wet spring.

According to an official outlook, there is an 80 per cent chance that almost 50 per cent of Australia will be lashed with above median levels of rainfall from September to November. Large swathes of the country are forecast to be affected, from the tip of Darwin to almost all of NSW.

An ongoing La Nina weather event typically results in cooler, wetter conditions in SA for spring and early summer.