Reduced flood threat for Riverland but wintry conditions returning from Sunday

Flood warnings for much of the Riverland have been reduced but relief will be short-lived as more rain and cooler temperatures hit on the weekend – with Adelaide also set to cop a soaking.

Flood warnings throughout the Riverland have been reduced, but more rain and cooler conditions are returning to the state from Sunday.

The SA State Emergency Service (SASES) has issued a public notice advising the risk of flooding has reduced for the Light and Gilbert rivers.

The alert confirms the river levels are dropping, but still remain higher than normal.

The emergency service warned while the threat to safety has lowered, some risks are still present and residents in the area should take care in the coming days.

A flood advice alert is still in place for shack areas between Cadell and Mannum along the River Murray.

It comes as new satellite images show the Riverland’s lakes and backwaters are already filled to the brim.

Flood warnings have reduced throughout the Riverland, but more rain is forecast for the weekend. Picture: Dean Martin

Heavier falls are expected to hit the state from Sunday, including in the Riverland and mid-north as another low pressure system comes across from the west.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jenny Horvat said “it’s not looking like it will be as much as what we’ve had, but it’s a ‘watch this space’ kind of situation”.

Adelaide is expected to cop up to 20mm on Sunday, followed by up to 15mm on Monday.

Port Augusta is set to record up to 15mm towards the end of the weekend, but showers will ease into next week.

Renmark will also receive some reprieve moving into Monday, but will be hit with up to 20mm on Sunday.

The SASES is still distributing free sandbags throughout the region, with pick-up locations in Berri, Loxton, Murray Bridge, Renmark and Waikerie.

The emergency service also delivered additional supplies to the region on Wednesday, including 45,000 more sandbags, shovels and water.

👉SASES loaded up another truck with supplies destined for the Riverland. 45,000 sandbags, two dozen shovels, pallets of water bottles, sandbag filling machines, are among the items destined for SASES Units across the Riverland today. @midmurray@[e-mail]/6zS2WsZXGz

— SASES (@SA_SES) October 25, 2022

It comes as more than half the Riverland region’s annual rainfall fell in the space of just two hours on Monday.

At least 95.6mm was also recorded at Renmark Airport while localised flooding resulted in some properties and businesses being damaged from inundation.

At 9pm on Sunday night, Lyrup local Phillip Crouch and his wife Mary realised they were going to get flooded out after battling to keep water from inside during the day.

At Lyrup near Berri, Phillip Crouch and wife Mary in the water that inundated their home. Picture Dean Martin

Mr Crouch said he knew the rain was coming and thought he had prepared enough but realised it was worse than he thought when water started flooding the house in “every room”.

“We didn’t expect as much as we got and we were pumping it out to keep it away but then everything came in from behind (the house) and our pumps couldn’t keep up with it,” Mr Crouch said.

“We sandbagged the doors but it still got through the sandbags and it was coming in from the blocks next door.

“The carpets are soaked, the vinyls are soaked, the kitchen cupboards are damaged, all the electrical stuff has been taken off and put on the steps.

“All the lounges and everything has been taken off the floor so hopefully we’ve saved the furniture.”

Ray Jackson joins SA CFS and Department of Environment and Water personnel at Adelaide Airport ahead of their deployment to Victoria to assist with flood efforts. Picture: SA CFS

The SA Country Fire Service (CFS) and Department of Environment and Water will travel to Victoria this week to assist with flooding events throughout the state.

The team is made up of a combination of volunteers and workers, including nine CFS and three Environment and Water personnel.

State duty commander Ray Jackson said the emergency service had no hesitation in answering the call for help.

“The contingent we are sending over have a broad range of incident management skills in things like planning, logistics and resourcing,” he said.

CFS staff officer James Honner said he is eager to hit the ground and assist where he can.

“Fire and floods may seem like world’s apart, but at the end of the day you are there to provide specialist support and put your skills to work, regardless of the incident,” he said.

The personnel will be deployed to Victoria for seven days and is part of a national resource sharing arrangement.