SA weather: Humidity to ease across the state

SA’s summer has felt more like a Sydney one with muggy conditions enveloping most of the state. But that’s set to end – for now – with a return to drier heat. Here’s what’s been going on.

A weekend of wild and unusual weather compounded with unseasonal and uncomfortable humidity will make way for a return to relative normality.

A low pressure trough responsible for rolling weather warnings as parts of South Australia endured heavy rains, strong winds and the risk of hail is expected to ease.

In its place will be a return to drier conditions South Aussies are more akin to a typical summer.

State Emergency Service state duty officer Brenton Clarke said it received 42 requests for help to 5pm Sunday, 26 of which were for flooding and 10 for fallen trees.

“The area that was hit the hardest was down near Victor Harbor, Encounter Bay and Port Elliot with 15 requests for assistance due to a heavy rain cell that went through there,” he said.

“There was one swift water rescue near Quorn for people trapped by rising water.”

Mr Clarke said the group was safely retrieved after they got stranded by fast-rising water levels around their car parked as they went to look at a water hole at Kanyaka.

He said the calls for help was “reasonably consistent throughout the day” and crews would monitor the weather situation including for potential flooding around the Flinders, Mid North and Murraylands area.

A surfer at Middleton leaves the beach as storm clouds roll in on Sunday, January 7. Picture: Brett Hartwig

“With the intense rain that fell, a lot of (calls for help) were water entering property or coming up to doors,” he said.

“There was no significant flooding that I am aware of but with the amount of rain, the drains can’t cope and start to creep towards the doors.”

The wild weather is expected to ease from Monday when the Bureau of Meteorology said the unstable conditions would settle, and humidity would ease.

Senior meteorologist Mark Anolak said northerly winds over the past week had created a prolonged period of humidity.

“We don’t get it very often- two or three times a summer we see humid conditions across the state,” he said.

“It’s not unheard of but it’s not what we’re used to.

“The problem is it has been laying around for nearly a week.”

Mr Anolak said the sticky conditions was caused by the build-up of tropical moisture moving across the state.

“That trough is combining with the tropical moisture causing very unsettled conditions,” he said.

Summer fog at the top of Willunga Hill on Sunday, January 7. Picture: Brett Hartwig

“South Australia is a very dry state and normally we get a lot of dry air blowing off the deserts and dominating.

“The dry is what we’re used to but when we add moisture to the atmosphere, it’s very uncomfortable and sticky.

“There is very little wind around, the isobars are pretty well spaced so there’s not a lot of wind.”

The conditions mean evaporative airconditioners are not as effective in cooling rooms, further exacerbating the level of discomfort for residents.

But there’s good news for people seeking a reprieve.

“I think we’re seeing the last of it ... over central and eastern parts of the state,” he said.

“We’re still expecting rain (but) overnight (Sunday) and into (Monday) it will start to flush the moisture into the eastern states.

“There is relief on the way.”

Mr Anolak said the state would move into a period of stable weather from Monday with a ridge of high pressure delivering fine conditions.

He said temperatures in the early part of the week would be below average but “warming up in the later part of the week and into the weekend”.