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SA weather: New cold front leaves trail of damage across Adelaide

Roofs were torn off, trees knocked down and residents left mopping up again as another savage cold front hit Adelaide on Wednesday evening.

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May 21, 2020 - 7:51AM
A fallen tree at the Family Medical Practice, Plympton Park, this evening. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe
A fallen tree at the Family Medical Practice, Plympton Park, this evening. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

A new cold front that swept through Adelaide on Wednesday evening knocked down trees, blocked roads, damaged a medical centre, tore off roofs and brought localised flooding.

The front dumped the bulk of the city’s rainfall, which topped 14.4mm at Scott Creek in the Adelaide Hills, at around 5.30pm.

The State Emergency Service and Metropolitan Fire Service fielded calls from North Adelaide and Klemzig but the bulk of assistance was needed in the southern suburbs where many battled flooding through damaged roofs.

The Your Family Medical Practice in Plympton Park was damaged, along with a vehicle, by a fallen tree.

Rain was expected to ease throughout the evening with a chance of small hail.

A slight chance of rain is forecast for tomorrow with a maximum temperature of 15 degrees celsius.

The wild weather follows a similar cold snap yesterday.

The Bureau of Meteorology SA said hail up to 1cm in diameter was reported from across the metropolitan coastline through to the eastern suburbs just after close of business Tuesday as a storm headed over the city.

In Magill, hail measuring 2cm wide hit hard and fast for about five minutes about 5.30pm.

BOM SA senior forecaster Tom Boeck said Adelaide could expect more rain and hail this evening.

The second front due to hit the state today could also bring strong and gusty winds with sheep graziers being warned livestock could be lost.

Areas affected include the Mount Lofty Ranges, Upper South East, Lower South East, and Kangaroo Island, southern parts of Yorke Peninsula and the Mid North district.

In Mt Lofty, Steve from Jet Flight Simulator said Tuesday’s hail covered his outdoor deck by about five centimetres deep around 6pm.

“It was insane,” he said. “I was brushing it off the deck with a broom.”

Large hail stones fell at the Mt Lofty home of Steve on Tuesday. Picture: Jet Flight Simulator
Large hail stones fell at the Mt Lofty home of Steve on Tuesday. Picture: Jet Flight Simulator
Large hail stones fell at the Mt Lofty home of Steve on Tuesday. Picture: Jet Flight Simulator
Large hail stones fell at the Mt Lofty home of Steve on Tuesday. Picture: Jet Flight Simulator

Tuesday’s highest rainfall was recorded at Neptune Island with 12.6mm, followed by Port Lincoln at 7mm.

In metropolitan Adelaide, 4.4mm at Regency Park was the highest rainfall recorded.

Tops of 15 of 16 are forecast for Adelaide for the rest of the week, with possible showers.

In Magill, the SES was called out to assist a resident whose roof was damaged by the hailstorm.

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/hailstorm-batters-parts-of-adelaide/news-story/f3c755e02504c59b7f1b66f2b8239e98