Day one of the Adelaide International Kite Festival flying event cancelled as wet weather settles in across the state

Rain has begun to fall across parts of the state, bringing a much-needed soaking as temperatures drop, but wild weather has forced the cancellation of a popular event’s first day. See the full forecast.

Drizzles of rain have hit much of the state on Easter Saturday, but some interstate visitors have been left “disappointed” by the cancellation of a popular seaside event due to the weather.

The Adelaide International Kite Festival flying event, held at Semaphore, was cancelled in the name of safety on Saturday as people travelled from around the world to watch and participate in the beloved Easter event.

Event planner Kristen Newlyn said she was “disappointed” to cancel the flying event due to the unexpected showers beating them down since late morning on Saturday.

The Adelaide International Kite Festival - Tilly Luo 10 tries to fly her kite in the windy conditions. Picture: Brett Hartwig

“We don’t make this decision lightly - to cancel the event,” she said.

“It's obviously disappointing to the organisers and the kite flyers and obviously the general public who came to view the sights... but there’s really nothing to be done.

“This was the right call for everyone’s safety and to preserve the kites.”

Ms Newlyn said the rain stopped more than 60 kite flyers, but that they would be back again on Sunday and Monday.

Full-time kite flyer Michael Alvares, 73, travelled from WA to attend the festival - returning to Semaphore for the first time in 20 years.

The Adelaide International Kite Festival - Michael Alvares of WA, packs away his kites due to the windy conditions. Picture: Brett Hartwig

He said it was “a shame” the weather took such a dramatic turn for the worse.

“We were setting up this morning and we saw the sky turn grey but we were still determined to persist,” he said.

“I even changed out kites for one that’s built stronger.

“I feel most sorry for the viewers though... I would estimate there were at least a thousand people here gathered to watch the event.”

The Festival Marketplace and amusements were still up and running on Saturday despite the weather.

Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges recorded a total of 1.4mm of rain throughout the day.

Dust storm near Owen in the Mid North. Picture 7NEWS

Much of the state’s Mid North was also covered by orange and brown clouds as a dust storm rolled through the region on Saturday, while the region only recorded 2.2mm of rain.

The West Coast, Lower and Eastern Eyre Peninsula recording the most rain on Saturday with 11.8mm, and the Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island received 9.2mm of rain.

The state’s North West and North East Pastoral Districts received only 0.5mm, while the Murraylands and Riverland, and Upper and Lower South East received none.

Temperatures were expected to tip to 29C on Easter Saturday in the metropolitan areas, with a chance of the morning showers developing into a thunderstorm in the evening.

A total fire ban was declared for Saturday in the Mid North.

Country Fire Service recommended residents in the area implement their Bushfire Survival Plan as the weather conditions were predicted to be hazardous.

You will have to rug up for this year's Easter egg hunt with the temperatures dropping to 20C with rain.

Easter Sunday temperatures are expected to plummet to 20C, with a shower or two and strong winds, which will carry through to Monday, which stays at 20C.

It gets slightly warmer on Tuesday with the mercury reaching 22C.

Bureau senior meteorologist Angus Hines said the cold front was likely to cross the south.

“There will be a distinct change in the weather for the southern states during the long weekend as hot, dry and sunny weather shifts to cool, cloudy conditions with patchy showers and the outside chance of thunderstorms,” Mr Hines said.

“Southern Western Australia will already be feeling the cooler winds by Friday, but for South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania, it’s likely to be Sunday when the weather shifts.”

The Bureau said major flooding warnings are still in place in northeast South Australia.

Easter long weekend forecast

Adelaide

Fri. 28C, partly cloudy

Sat. 29C, showers developing

Sun. 20C, showers

Mon. 20C, shower or two

Tues. 22C, mostly sunny

Elizabeth

Fri. 29C, partly cloudy

Sat. 29C, showers

Sun. 19C, showers or two

Mon. 21C, partly cloudy

Tues. 22C, mostly sunny

Mount Gambier

Fri. 24C, partly cloudy

Sat. 27C, showers

Sun. 21C, showers

Mon. 19C, shower or two

Tues. 20C, cloudy

Victor Harbor

Fri. 25C, partly cloudy

Sat. 27C, showers

Sun. 19C, shower or two

Mon. 18C, shower or two

Tues. 19C, partly cloudy

Port Augusta

Fri. 33C, partly cloudy

Sat. 32C, shower or two

Sun. 23C, partly cloudy

Mon. 21C, partly cloudy

Tues. 23C, mostly sunny

Port Lincoln

Fri. 27C, possible showers

Sat. 25C, showers easing

Sun. 20C, showers or two

Mon. 20C, cloudy

Tues. 21C, cloudy

Ceduna

Fri. 32C, showers or two developing

Sat. 23C, showers easing

Sun. 20C, possible shower

Mon. 20C, partly cloudy

Tues. 22C, sunny

Originally published as Day one of the Adelaide International Kite Festival flying event cancelled as wet weather settles in across the state