Dust storm causing havoc north of Adelaide as heavy rain sees widespread flooding in the state’s south

An intense dust storm north of Adelaide has farmers asking if the dry, red dirt filling the skies across the Mid-North is proof enough that SA should be declared a State of Emergency.

An intense dust storm north of Adelaide has farmers asking if the dry, red dirt filling the skies across the Mid-North is proof enough that SA should be declared in drought.

Founder of SA business Iris & Wool Emily Riggs took to Instagram to share photos of an intense dust storm on her Burra property.

Mrs Riggs’s family runs 15,000 Merino sheep across four properties in Burra and the video shows red dust filling the air and coating sheds, machinery and entering a home.

“Surely this is enough to declare drought in SA?” she posted, in reference to pleas for a State of Emergency.

“This is off the driest year on record last year in SA. And we are less than a week away from winter!”

Speaking to The Advertiser, Ms Riggs said her husband was a fifth generation farmer at Burra, and that her father in-law had never seen a drought like it in the decades he’s been working the land.

“Last year was the driest on record here as well, and this year’s drought is off the back of that,” she said.

“My father in-law, he’s been on the land for more than 60 years and he has never seen it this dry, and he’s lived and worked here all of his life.

“This is a significant weather event.”

Dust storm causing havoc north of Adelaide as heavy rain sees widespread flooding in the state’s south. Severe weather in drought stricken Burra, South Australia, 26 May 2025. Picture: @irisandwool/instagram -

She said today’s dust storm impacted significantly on the top soil of the land and would affect feeding sheep and working in the conditions.

“It’s bad for the top soil. We’ve got station country out east of Burra, so it just covers all the bush with dust and then the sheep won’t like it and won’t eat it,” she said.

“It’s not good. It’s not good for the bush, for the sheep and for working in.

“Trying to work in it, there’s dust in your eyes, dust in your mouth and dust everywhere.”

Dust in the Mid-North. Picture: Jess Quinn

She joins thousands of farmers and local councils throughout the state calling on government leaders to declare a State of Emergency but Premier Peter Malinauskas said again on Monday there was no mechanism to make that happen and it would have no impact on drought funding measures in the state’s $73m assistance package.

He accused the state opposition of “playing politics” with struggling farmers saying the government had already recognised there was a drought when it released a first $18m package last year.

“The state Liberal Party is trying to play politics with the drought in a way that doesn’t help anybody, they are out there saying declare a drought, well, a drought is declared, that’s why we have a $73m package,” he said.

Early on Monday, police warned the dust storm has significantly reduced visibility on RM Williams Way, north of Jamestown on Monday morning as wild weather lashes South Australia.

It comes as the state has been hit with blackouts and flood damage near Adelaide and in the southern regions, with some businesses shutting their doors due to the damage.

A motorist in the region travelling to Peterborough told The Advertiser visibility was so poor driving conditions had become too dangerous.

Visibility was down to a metre, with some drivers braving the conditions, crawling along at just 20km/h on the 110km/h Barrier Highway, the driver said.

Some drivers were forced to pull over near Whyte Yarcowie, 40kms outside Peterborough as the red dust storm hit the region.

SA Police issued the warning at about 10.20am asking road users to “exercise caution”.

High winds blow up the dust causing poor visibility for drivers in SA’s Mid North on Monday. Picture: Mark Brake

High winds blow up the dust. Picture: Mark Brake

High winds blow up the dust in a paddock near Manoora. Picture: Mark Brake

“Ensure your headlights are on and drive to the conditions,” SA Police posted online.

“Pull to the side of the road if it is unsafe to continue and wait for the storm to pass.”

It comes after the Bureau of Meteorology warned residents to prepare for damaging and destructive winds of up to 125 km/h, issuing a severe weather warning for most of the state.

Winds are set to strengthen ahead of the front, with peak gusts of around 110 km/h possible for Kangaroo Island and coastal parts of the West Coast, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, Fleurieu Peninsula and coastal parts of the far southeast.

It comes as Adelaide is forecast for up to 20mm of rain with a temperature high of 17C.