Showdown parking canned as wet weather breaks records across SA

Adelaide Oval bosses have ditched public parking options for Saturday’s Showdown as damaging winds and heavy rain smash the state, leaving a trail of destruction.

A severe weather warning is in place for damaging winds across SA as heavy rain and strong winds lash the state.

It comes as Adelaide is forecast to receive up to 30mm of rain on Friday with the showers to continue over the weekend.

One unlucky motorist caught up in the wild weather had a shock when an uprooted tree came crashing down on their parked MG at Morphett Vale.

An uprooted tree came crashing down on a parked MG in Adelaide’s south. Picture: 7NEWS

The heavy rain caused traffic delays on Friday morning before the announcement came that the wet weather would mean Adelaide Oval will not offer any public parking onsite for Saturday night’s Showdown.

Adelaide Oval chief executive Nick Addison said it would be important for fans to plan ahead and make use of the Footy Express and free public transport.

“Saturday night is promising to be another blockbuster, and we can’t wait to welcome fans in to enjoy this great rivalry,” he said.

“We know it’s going to be wet so come prepared with plenty of warm clothes and wet weather protection and arrive early if you can.

“The wet weather does unfortunately mean we will not be able to offer any public parking onsite.”

The Bureau of Meteorology warns a deep low pressure system in The Bight will bring windy conditions across the state on Friday.

Pedestrians try to dodge the rain in Adelaide CBD’s on Friday. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Rain records broken

The warning is active for people in West Coast, Flinders, Mid North, North West Pastoral and parts of Mount Lofty Ranges, Eastern Eyre Peninsula, North East Pastoral and Murraylands districts.

Bureau of Meteorology’s Daniel Sherwin-Simpson told ABC Breakfast radio areas to the far north of the state had picked up over 22mm overnight.

Coober Pedy picked up 13mm to record its wettest July on record with weather records at the station going back 32 years.

“We are going to be seeing rainfall across pretty much off of the state; on everyone’s forecast you’re going to see rain and windy today,” he said.

The rain is expected to continue all weekend. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Mr Sherwin-Simpson said northern parts of the state could expect up to 20mm of rain on Friday with more on its way to the south.

“As you move down to the coast and the Mount Lofty Rangers and Kangaroo Island you could be seeing 30mm, maybe even 40 in some isolated areas,” he said.

He said it would be wet for the next three days, especially in the south.

Traffic lights out

Power outages have played havoc with traffic lights early on Friday morning with a blackout causing concerns with lights on the Port River Expressway near the Eastern Parade Ramp at Port Adelaide and near Hanson Road at Wingfield.

Power outages were affecting boom gates at Largs North on Fletcher Rd with some traffic lights also out at Campbelltown on Friday morning. By 10am, there were 11 outages affecting 470 customers across the state.

Rain is expected to continue on Saturday with football-goers heading along to the Showdown at Adelaide Oval warned to prepare for rain with 15mm forecast for Adelaide.

“I would be stunned if there wasn’t some showers throughout the game that we are going to see tomorrow so raincoats, ponchos are definitely what I’m going to be recommending. “

Originally published as Showdown parking canned as wet weather breaks records across SA