Biggest water surge in 50 years looms as severe weather system saturates state’s north, River Murray flows

Roads have reopened after flooding in the state’s north but the real water surge hasn’t arrived yet. In December the Riverland will be hit with water volumes not seen since 1975.

Roads have reopened following flooding throughout the state’s north, but with more heavy rainfall on the way, there are fears the worst is yet to come.

Thunderstorms lashed the Flinders and Southern Pastoral districts, with 50 to 75mm falling on some areas on Wednesday.

The severe weather event had caused flash flooding, triggering the closure of several roads, including a portion of the Olympic Highway near Woomera.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport announced the highway had partially reopened yesterday evening.

A flood watch remains in place for parts of the region.

The Olympic Dam Highway near Woomera is now open to one lane of traffic, with crews still onsite and speed restrictions of 40km/hr.

Please drive carefully while travelling through the area and follow the directions of onsite crews.

More: https://t.co/TEOjjXPNyJpic.twitter.com/pzRtOfccea

— SA Infrastructure & Transport (@DFIT_SA) October 19, 2022

The road closures initially cut-off access to major mining communities in Roxby Downs and Andamooka, where air travel is the only route in and out.

“We have seen some infrastructure impacts, the Olympic Highway has been closed with water cutting the actual highway itself. We have to get an assessment as to what damage has been caused and what the prognosis is in terms of it reopening,” SES chief executive Chris Beattie said at the time.

And the north is not out of the woods yet.

Loxton’s John Hamilton Memorial Lions Park. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Jenny Horvat said another trough of low pressure system will come across from the west on Friday.

William Creek charter pilot Trevor Wright said they were hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.

“The serious problems arise when there are multiple wet weather events,” he said.

“The whole catchment is really well-primed here, so it’s not going to take much in the way of rain this weekend to see a lot of flooding in areas up here.”

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Olympic Dam Highway between Woomera and Pimba was closed due to flooding. Picture: Marcus Hiam

Flash-flooding has cut off major roads in several state’s outback towns with the main streets of Andamooka washed out by a torrent of water. Send your videos and photos to 7NEWS: https://t.co/xdDzDcJ6ds Details in 7NEWS Adelaide at 4pm and 6pm | https://t.co/8ftPfFYTVQ#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/7igTMO4hrW

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) October 19, 2022

Sian Hine (in blue top) was travelling from NSW when she and her partner John became stranded in William Creek. Picture: Supplied

The town was cut-off with six travellers stranded in William Creek for the foreseeable future.

Sian and John Hine, from Bermagui in NSW arrived on Monday, and the roads were closed by Tuesday.

But Ms Hine said they were making the most of their extended stay, and have been making new friends.

“We are comfortable camping at the campground at William Creek, enjoying meals and the hospitality at the hotel,” said Ms Hine, who is stuck in the tiny town with four other people – two from Gympie, QLD, one from Sydney and another from Brisbane.

It comes as Premier Peter Malinauskas announced a campaign to ensure River Murray communities were afforded the best possible protection from floodwaters.

He said the River Murray would be inundated with water levels not seen since 1975 as flooding in the eastern states flows through to SA.

“We know here in South Australia that we don’t immediately face the prospect of what we’re seeing on eastern seaboard but it is absolutely essential that we maintain an element of preparedness,” Mr Malinauskas said.

@BOM_SA have issued a Flood Watch for parts of the North West and North East Pastoral Districts
Issued at 12:32 pm CDT on Wednesday 19 October 2022
Flood Watch Number: 3
FLOODING TO CONTINUE DURING WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY https://t.co/YkDJqAWCwcpic.twitter.com/jdrkZA1PmP

— SASES (@SA_SES) October 19, 2022

From Thursday, a team of engineers from the Environment Department along with SES volunteers will be attending the Renmark area to assess vulnerable areas.

The department is forecasting 120 GL of water to start flowing through the Riverland per day from early December – the equivalent of 48,000 Olympic-sized pools.

The Hospital Bank and Hale St Bank levees at Renmark, with a capacity of 130GL to 150GL, were of highest concern should that forecast increase.

Mr Beattie said restoration works will be undertaken on those levies after the assessment.

“Certainly for the low-lying shack areas it’s very certain that we will see more shacks flooded and we’ll continue to see low-lying roads and other infrastructure impacted. In terms of the towns themselves, at this stage, we’re not forecasting any impacts,” he said.

Originally published as Biggest water surge in 50 years looms as severe weather system saturates state’s north, River Murray flows