Adelaide forecast: Heavy rains for SA as ‘big low pressure system’ moves across

A cold front sweeping SA has been causing havoc with trees down and power out – including at one of Adelaide’s busiest intersections on Tuesday morning.

It’s set to be a wet week for South Australia, with more than 80mm forecast – most of which is set to be dumped on Adelaide on Tuesday and over the weekend.

Tuesday will see seven to 25mm of rainfall, along with gusty winds up to 45km/h and small hail.

Overnight on Monday, the Adelaide Plains received 10mm of rain, while some areas in the Adelaide Hills had up to 20mm.

The wild weather has led to significant storm damage, with SES crews responding to 15 incidents since midnight, most being fallen trees.

Heavy rain is set to cover much of the state on Tuesday morning. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

Police were managing traffic at one of Adelaide’s busiest intersections on Tuesday morning, with lights out at the intersection of King William St and North Tce.

Power is also out for just over 1000 SA residents, with reported outages in Cape Jervis, Eden Valley, Echunga, Humbug Scrub, Salisbury Downs, and Adelaide.

The lights were expected to come back for impacted homes later on Tuesday.

This comes as a severe weather warning was issued for parts of the state on Tuesday, with some regions forecast to be hit by strong, damaging wind gusts up to 90km/h.

The areas set to be affected include the Lower Eyre Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Fleurieu Peninsula, and southern parts of the Yorke Peninsula.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Mark Anolak told FIVEAA it would be a soggy start to the new school term.

But he said it was a low pressure system moving across the state towards the back end of the week that would bring heavy rains.

“We are expecting some high level clouds to develop during the afternoon (on Monday), and with that high level cloud we may see a spot or two of shower activity developing maybe (about) 4pm,” Mr Anolak said on Monday.

“Most of the shower activity will occur through the dark hours, overnight tonight into tomorrow morning.

“(Tuesday) looks like the wetter day and most of those showers will probably happen before sunrise.

The state could get about 30mm of rain this weekend alone. Picture: Brett Hartwig.

“Then later in the week it looks like another big low pressure system moving across the state, so a return to wet conditions for the latter part of the week, and rainfall totals reaching, could be up to 30mm.”

There is more inclement weather on the way for the state too, with a medium chance for showers on Wednesday and Thursday, and Friday forecast for up to 25mm.

Saturday should see up to 15mm and Sunday up to 9mm.

Originally published as Adelaide forecast: Heavy rains for SA as ‘big low pressure system’ moves across