More wet weather in South Australia’s ‘wettest event’ of 2025 as farmers finally get above average rain

It’s soaked footy players, covered beaches in foam and flooded country streets – so, what does SA’s record rainfall this week mean for the state’s farmers?

In a positive step for the state’s drought-stricken farmers, SA has recorded its wettest event this year with widespread rainfall since Thursday.

Following the wet weather, more than 8500 homes were left without power on Sunday afternoon in Adelaide suburbs including Norwood, Toorak Gardens, Hackney and Glenside.

SA Power Networks restored power later in the afternoon after SAPOL warned traffic lights were blacked out at nine intersections in the eastern suburbs.

BOM meteorologist Daniel Sherwin-Simpson said a rain event from late Thursday to midday on Sunday was the most widespread rain the state had received this year, with stations in every forecast district getting more than 20mm.

“The agricultural areas have picked up near or above average rainfall over July,” he said.

A storm surge hitting Robe on Tuesday. Picture: Dean Martin

A Kingston building flooded on Tuesday. Picture: Dean Martin

“It’s not drought ending, it doesn’t make up for the deficiencies we’ve seen annually, we’re still going to be in a rainfall deficiency, but it’s a step in the right direction.

“Hopefully we see it again in August and September to bring us back up to what we need, but it’s a bit of a wait and see with those months ahead.”

The rainfall was associated with a low pressure system that has swept cloud and rain across the country, with more showers forecast for South Australia on Sunday.

The state’s heaviest rain in the past 72 hours was recorded in the Mount Lofty Ranges, including 109.2mm at Aldgate, 103.8mm at Millbrook, and 100mm at Lenswood and Longwood.

In the Eyre Peninsula, Coulta had its highest single-day July rainfall in 149 years, getting 44mm between 9am Friday and 9am Saturday.

Reilly O'Brien of the Crows in the ruck during a heavy ]shower during Saturday’s Showdown at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Ryan Schembri/AFL Photos via Getty Images

This cyclist making his way home through the extensive foam covering the boardwalk in front of Moana Lifesaving Club. Picture: Roger Foster

Rain was least heavy in the far-north pastoral districts, but 22mm rainfall was still recorded at Pukatja in the APY Lands, 14mm at Coober Pedy and 25mm at Nullarbor.

A separate rain event with damaging winds on Tuesday inundated Adelaide beaches with foam and flooded areas across the South-East.

Multiple streets at Rosetown were closed because of flooding, while sea waves breached the rockwall at the Kingston foreshore in a storm surge, pushing water and debris onto the road.

Sea foam was filmed encroaching on the esplanade at Moana near the Surf Lifesaving Club.

Originally published as More wet weather in South Australia’s ‘wettest event’ of 2025 as farmers finally get above average rain