After a record dry start to the year, four days of rain are expected across SA

It’s been the driest ever first four months of the year — but we’re about to finally get up to four days of downpours as May arrives.

• Last week: Farmers run out of food supplies amid drought

Adelaide will welcome its 131-year record of the driest start to the year with four days of downpours.

There is a 30 per cent chance of showers on Tuesday evening but any rainfall will contribute to figures for 9am on Wednesday — which means no more rainfall for April will be recorded.

So far this year, the West Tce station has recorded just 17.8mm of rainfall, breaking the 1888 record low of 19.2mm. But expect to get drenched from Wednesday to Saturday in Adelaide and agricultural areas.

“That will be our best chance of rain all year,” BOM duty forecaster Ben Owen said.

“Rainfall associated with a front will be moving through Adelaide on Tuesday into Wednesday.”

Then “a slow-moving low” will bring a “refreshing, moist, westerly to north-westerly stream” for the rest of the week, Mr Owen said.

Robbie and Rhys Vandenbroek of Uraidla, with Ella, 5, and Milo, 1, at Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens. Picture: AAP / Dean Martin

The eastern and southern parts of SA are expecting showers from Wednesday while the northern pastoral areas will get downpours around Tuesday and Wednesday. Gardening expert Jon Lamb said the dry start to the year has made leaves in the Adelaide Hills change their colour earlier than usual and they are dropping faster.

Rhys Vandenbroek, of Carey Gully, enjoyed “stunning” change of scenery at Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens with his young family. “It has been quite a dry end to the summer, a lot of people haven’t got much in their rainwater tanks,” he said.

THE FORECAST

Monday: 24C sunny. 0% chance of rain

Tuesday: 14-24C, partly cloudy. 30% chance of rain, 0-1mm

Wednesday: 13-18C, showers. 90% chance of rain, 4-10mm

Thursday: 11-17C, showers and windy. 80% chance of rain, 5-15mm

Friday: 12-18C, showers and windy. 70% chance of rain, 2-8mm

Saturday: 12-19C, possible shower. 40% chance of rain, 0-1mm

Sunday: 11-21C, mostly sunny. 5% chance of rain