Clean-up begins after wild winds and flash flooding leave trail of damage in Port Augusta

A major clean-up has begun in Port Augusta after wild weather brought a deluge and huge hailstones that damaged homes and businesses.

Residents and businesses owners in Port Augusta are facing the aftermath of a “one in 10-year weather event”, with the recovery process expected to take weeks and even months.

The freak storm turned the streets into pools and caused significant structural damage to houses and businesses.

A video has emerged showing the moment the ceiling collapsed on top of the bakery department in the local Woolworths, forcing the supermarket to close for part of the day.

An SES spokesperson said the emergency service responded to more than 100 calls for assistance throughout the storm.

“The calls were dominantly about water coming in through the ceiling or minor flooding in through doors and low lying areas,” the spokesperson said.

DEVELOPING: A flood watch and act alert has been issued for Port Augusta as heavy falls and hail sweep through parts of the state. Send your weather videos to 7NEWS: https://t.co/xdDzDd1frA@AmeliaMulcahy7 has the latest forecast in 7NEWS at 6pm | https://t.co/8ftPfGh39Y#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/DX00wT9CrC

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) September 7, 2022

Resident Lesley Farr made one of those calls.

Ms Farr’s loungeroom ceiling collapsed earlier this morning.

“At 5am we woke up to a bang and the ceiling was down on the floor,” Ms Farr said.

“The insulation was wet, so it must have soaked the gyprock and that’s why it collapsed.

“We think the water couldn’t get out through the guttering because of the hailstones, so it channelled back into the roof,” Ms Farr said.

Huge hailstones that fell during the storm over Port Augusta. Picture: Kimberley Luckraft

A 4WD that slid off the road as the storm hit Port Augusta. Picture: Thomas McKerlie

The freak storm produced a 40mm deluge with 21mm falling within 30 minutes on Wednesday evening.

Owner of Homestead Gardens garden centre Kendall Jones said the storm was the most intense she had ever seen.

The rain and hail stripped the trees off their leaves, caused structural damage to a shade and smashed windows on the property.

“It looked like a cyclone and you could feel the pressure,” Ms Jones said.

“It felt like risking death to go out in it, but luckily, none of our animals on the property were injured.”

It looks like a winter wonderland at this Port Augusta garden centre but hail caused a lot of damage across the town. Picture: Homestead Gardens

The aftermath of the storm at a Port Augusta garden centre. Picture: Homestead Gardens

For owner of Cinema Augusta Michelle Coles, the damage has already passed $20,000.

Water has destroyed the cinema’s screen, temporarily closing the business.

“It was like a waterfall gushing over the screen with a swimming pool at the bottom,” Ms Coles said.

Port Augusta is no stranger to freak weather events and some businesses have only recently recovered from a storm that lashed the city in February.

Mayor of Port Augusta City Council Brett Benbow said Port Augusta could be recovering for another few months.

“Hopefully we don’t get any more in the meantime and the recovery can continue … if we get more the process will slow down,” he said.

“It’s an automatic hit on businesses and the community using the services, it’s going to take time.”

RAINFALL TOTALS

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It comes as all Riverland parks campgrounds closed earlier this week due to rising water levels predicted to reach a six-year high.

The Environment Department temporarily closed all sites and most tracks within the parks from September 5 until November 30 as unregulated flows are expected to reach up to 70GL/day by mid October and inundate flood plains.

A Code Blue has been called across South Australia to help those sleeping rough during the wild weather.

The statewide activation will come into effect from 11am today until 9am Friday 9th September 2022.

WHEN AND WHERE RAIN WILL FALL

* Hit the play button to follow the rain’s predicted path across SA in coming days

ADELAIDE WEATHER FORECAST

Thursday: 16C, showers (6-10mm)

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

Saturday: 16C, possible shower (0-1mm)

Sunday: 15C, shower or two (0-0.4mm)

Monday: 15C, partly cloudy

Tuesday: 18C, mostly sunny

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.

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