Storm sweeps over Adelaide following night of SA’s heaviest rain since September

SEE THE VIDEO: An intense storm has swept across Adelaide and the southern suburbs. The wild winds blew away an inflatable waterslide at Glenelg and several major roads were flooded. | IMAGES: Storm gallery

• WEATHER: See the latest rain radar and forecast
• STORM DAMAGE: Lightning blamed for $2m shed fire
• AIRBORNE WATERSLIDE: Glenelg’s Big Wedgie blows away

A MAJOR storm swept over Adelaide on Friday afternoon, following a night of some of the heaviest rain since September.

The Big Wedgie giant inflatable waterslide at Glenelg broke its moorings and blew away in the high winds. Staff had evacuated the slide minutes before it blew away.

Debris was strewn around Brian Nadilo Reserve and fences were blown over. Part of the slide — which has deflated — became snagged in a pine tree.

Torrential rain, lightning and thunder rapidly swept across Adelaide, with the southern suburbs most heavily affected. The storm moved quickly and in many areas the rainfall only lasted for a relatively short period of time.

The Bureau of Meteorology said Adelaide had experienced 35mm of rain in half an hour.

The inner-south suburbs around Mitcham and Torrens Park were some of the worst hit, with 20mm of rain in 10 minutes.

There was localised flooding on Belair Rd, Glen Osmond Rd, Goodwood Rd and Brighton Rd.

Adelaide Airport recorded wind gusts of up to 89km/h while there was hail at Hallett Cove.

What happened in 30 minutes

VIEW GALLERY

Just went for a boat ride in #Adelaide #AdelaideStorm #Weather pic.twitter.com/PNBoLWirER

— Andy Cussen (@Cussen91) January 22, 2016

Severe Thunderstorm Warning - Adelaide Region https://t.co/o3rbFZ89im pic.twitter.com/OsGAeepDXu

— SA SES (@SA_SES) January 22, 2016

Separate stormfronts, also bringing extremely heavy rains, swept across several towns on the plains north of Adelaide during the afternoon.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms for Adelaide, Mount Lofty Ranges, Yorke Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Mid North, Murraylands, Upper South East and parts of the Lower Eyre Peninsula, Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Flinders, Riverland, Lower South East and North East Pastoral districts.

In the metropolitan area, the thunderstorm was detected in the waters off Port Noarlunga about 1pm.

By 2pm, heavy rain had hit Adelaide’s southern suburbs and parts of the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Maitland and Murray Bridge were also expected to be affected as the storm moved towards the east.

Monitoring large area for thunderstorm development - some likely severe. Warnings & radar at https://t.co/Jw0lhgiJxB pic.twitter.com/StkTswEGoy

— BOM South Australia (@BOM_SA) January 22, 2016

HEAVY RAIN ON THURSDAY NIGHT

On Thursday night, the mercury was still up around 28C in Adelaide until a storm hit about 1am, bringing rain, lightning and some relief from the heat.

Adelaide had 8mm of rain, while Kuitpo Forest, near McLaren Vale, had 25mm.

Cleve on the Eyre Peninsula was the standout, receiving 35mm. Cleve also experienced severe winds, with a 106km/h gust recorded and 20mm of rain falling in 20 minutes.

The winds ripped the roof off the two-storey Cleve Football Club and felled many trees.

A storm ripped off the roof of Cleve Football Club. Photo: Kelly Richardson

Cleve Sporting Bodies president Kelly Richardson said the damage made the 39-year-old clubrooms looked like a “war zone”.

“About eight metres on the top (of the roof) of the clubrooms were ripped off, it’s all flooded underneath and the carpet is written off,” she said.

“It’s quite heartbreaking, there’s lots of memories.”

The cost of the damage was still yet to be determined.

A storm ripped off the roof of Cleve Football Club. Photo: Kelly Richardson

The Brumfield electrical store and the local butcher at Cleve also had their windows broken from the wind impact.

Owner Joanne Brumfield said a 2.5m by 2.5m window was smashed overnight.

“It could have been worse because there were shards of glass that went quite a distance ... so it was lucky no one was here last night,” she said.

“I also know a farmer who lost his shed.”

Marree had 30mm and Leigh Creek enjoyed 23mm as the Mid North was also drenched.

Lightning also is suspected to have started a fire which caused about $2 million damage to a shed on a farm in the upper Yorke Peninsula

Reader picture of the lightning storm over Adelaide on Thursday night, taken from under Semaphore jetty. Picture: Ben Macey/Facebook

Humidity levels have been through the roof in Adelaide over the past few days, making it feel more like tropical North Queensland.

“It’s fairly unusual to see humidity at this sort of level,” a Bureau of Meteorology spokesman told ABC 891 this morning.

“We’ve got humidity this morning around 90 per cent across the Adelaide area.

“So it’s quite uncomfortable, it’s quite a tropical sort of feel.”

Saturday is expected to be a pleasant 27C, followed by 28C until Thursday when it should reach 29C.