Rain finally falls over Adelaide after record dry weather spell

The rain has finally come down overnight in Adelaide, with one area copping the lion’s share, and forecasts revealing if more is on the way.

An empty dam in the drought-affected Mid North in March, 2025. Picture: Mark Brake

After a very dry start to May, the skies finally opened overnight in Adelaide – and there’s the possibility of several millimetres more during the morning.

But don’t get too excited. While the temperature is predicted to drop to tops of low 20s during the week, the weekend is set to jump back up to 25C with no more meaningful rainfall this week.

Mount Lofty recorded the most rain with 8.8mm since 9am on Tuesday and while the soaking wasn’t widespread, Adelaide got 2.2mm in the city, and 2mm was recorded at the Adelaide Airport.

Adelaide Hills cops the most

A Bureau of Meteorology spokesman said the Mt Lofty Ranges received the lion’s share with 5 to 9mm overnight.

“Nothing broke the 10mm mark and we probably won’t see that much more,” he told ABC Radio Adelaide on Wednesday morning.

Parndana, on Kangaroo Island recorded 6.4mm however there wasn’t much in to for the rest of Kangaroo Island or the Yorke Peninsula.

Roseworthy recorded 2mm but there was nothing recorded for the rest of the Flinders and Mid North, no rainfall in the Murraylands and Riverland and only showers on the West Coast and Eyre Peninsula.

However, Mount Gambier, in the state’s South-East, recorded 8.4.mm while Robe had 4.6mm.

According to weatherzone.com.au, just 14.4mm of rain was recorded at the city’s main weather station from January 1 to the morning of April 15, 2025 – the fourth-driest period on record from the start of the year to the midpoint of autumn.

The only drier years from January 1 to April 15 were 1986 (11.4mm), 1989 (11.2mm) and 1980 (5.8mm).

As of April 15, reservoirs in the Mount Lofty catchment area in the Adelaide Hills were at just 37 per cent.

Adelaide forecast

Wednesday, May 7: Mostly cloudy. Showers, mostly morning. W/S’ly winds Min – 15. Max – 21.

Thursday, May 8: Mostly sunny. E’ly winds tending SE Min – 9. Max – 20.

Friday, May 9: Sunny. NE winds tending SE Min – 9. Max – 21.

Saturday, May 10: Sunny. E’ly winds tending NW Min – 10. Max – 23.

Sunday, May 11: Sunny. NE winds tending SE Min – 11. Max – 24.

Monday, May 12: Sunny. Light winds Min –11. Max – 25