Rain brings relief to many firegrounds around Australia

Desperately needed rain has fallen in SA, bringing relief to firegrounds – but the weather has caused other problems to the east, with thunderstorms in NSW and giant hail in Canberra.

• Hailstorm hits Canberra
• Cudlee Creek bushfire clean up has only just begun
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Rain has fallen on the scorched fireground of Cudlee Creek – and there’s more on the horizon that could reach Kangaroo Island on Tuesday.

Firegrounds across the nation enjoyed welcome relief on Monday as rain and thunderstorms swept across southeastern Australia.

In the Adelaide Hills, Lenswood recorded falls of 18mm, while Ashton was doused with 26.2mm of rain and Cudlee Creek itself received 21.6mm.

Much of the rain fell on Sunday night and into Monday morning, Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Samantha Slattery said.

Elsewhere, Kyeema, just south of Kuitpo, recorded a whopping 50mm – but Kangaroo Island largely missed out on the latest shower activity, which was brought by an upper level low.

Only 0.8mm was recorded at Parndana, but there’s a silver lining, Ms Slattery said.

“We do have a front coming through on Wednesday that’s going to bring back a bit of shower activity, particularly for Kangaroo Island, and not so much Adelaide,” she said. “Thursday looks like the wetter day for the Adelaide Hills, with some good shower activity expected over KI as well.”

A koala in Belair National Park drinks rain off the road as desperately needed rain falls in South Australia. Picture: Brad Fleet

Meanwhile, severe thunderstorms lashed NSW after earlier pummelling the nation’s capital with golf-ball size stones.

The 15-minute storm left the grounds of Parliament House looking like snow had fallen. Two people were struck by lightning in the Blue Mountains. A 16-year-old boy and 24-year-old man were both reported to be in stable conditions. Adelaide is expected to see clearer skies on Tuesday and a maximum of 27C is forecast.