‘Completely underwater’: Naracoorte streets are flooded after thunderstorm and hail

Naracoorte has been left reeling after a severe thunderstorm brought heavy rain and hail, as well as blackouts overnight.

A “freak” thunderstorm has wreaked havoc in Naracoorte in the state’s south-east causing severe flooding, bringing down powerlines and damaging homes and businesses.

Several hundred homes in the region were left without power as the storm hit on Friday evening, with hail and heavy rainfall leaving many of the town’s streets under water.

South Australia’s emergency services received over 80 call out requests for assistance as a deluge of up to 170mm fell on parts of Naracoorte, about 340km from Adelaide.

Mary Stratford, co-owner of a cellar door and wine bar in the centre of town, said they were expecting a storm but nothing like what they experienced.

“We had a few patrons outside and I told them they might want to come in, it’s going to rain in a minute … and then it started and it didn’t stop for an hour and a half. We couldn’t believe it,” said the owner of Wild Game Wine.

“It was hailing and raining solidly, it left our outdoor lawn half a foot under water.

“We all just grabbed buckets and started bailing out the water to stop it from coming inside. It was quite unbelievable, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Ms Stratford said there was also strong winds, thunder and lightning as the storm raged on, leaving the bowling green at the next door Naracoorte RSL and District Bowling Club completely under water.

Storms and hail in Naracoorte Picture: Facebook

Storms and hail in Naracoorte Picture: Facebook

Kasia Cichonski lives on a property on Deviation Road, just on the outskirts of town, and described the weather event as a “freak storm that came out of nowhere”.

“There no build up, there were some dark clouds and then it started bucketing down,” she said.

“It was just incredible, really freaky and a little scary. It was absolutely mad.”

She said about 75mm of rain fell on her property during the storm and 110mm on Friday while up to 170mm dropped on Butler Tce, just five minutes walk away, on the same day.

“We were lucky we didn’t have any damage but there will be some insurance claims, that’s for sure,” Ms Cichonski said.

SA Power Networks said about 300 homes in the south-east were affected by multiples outages related to the thunderstorms on Friday evening. But power had been restored by Saturday morning.

Some of the community’s shared spaces have also sustained notable damage.

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The Naracoorte Health Service facility has undisclosed damage but the public has been reassured the Accident and Emergency department is functioning as normal.

The Longridge Aged Care Facility received minor damage while the Naracoorte Public Library and Town Hall were impacted by flooding and the schools and kindergartens were being assessed for impact.

The SES and CFS, with the help of the Naracoorte Lucindale Council, were continuing to clean the roads from fallen trees and debris, and assisting residents in need.

Storms and hail in Naracoorte Picture: Facebook

As such, authorities have asked the general public to avoid entering the area as emergency personnel and their vehicle and machinery are operating under challenging circumstances.

The Bureau had forecasted “a severe thunderstorm,” with “large hailstones and heavy rainfall … for the Lower South-East and Upper South-East (including Naracoorte) just after 4:40pm” Friday.

Bureau senior metrologist Hannah Marsh said there was more rain to come for Naracoorte and surrounds.

“The low trough that was responsible for the thunderstorm on Friday has moved out to the east,” she said.

“Another trough will develop through the state but at this stage it’s looking like the rainfall will move further north away from Naracoorte.

“But there is still a potential for a severe thunderstorm with heavy rainfalls locally on both Monday and Tuesday.”

For SES assistance phone 132 500 or if the matter is life-threatening call triple-0.