Severe Weather Impacts South Australia and Victoria with Record Rainfall

South Australia and Victoria are experiencing significant rainfall, leading to flooding and severe weather warnings across both states. A low-pressure system moving southward is responsible for the intense precipitation, with some areas receiving rainfall totals not seen in decades.

South Australia Hit by Historic Rainfall

Flooding rainfall continues to impact South Australia, with severe weather warnings active for every district in the state. Ooldea recorded 180mm of rainfall between midday Friday, February 27th, and midday Saturday, February 28th. Further rainfall was recorded throughout Saturday, with totals including:

• Minnipa: 103mm (to 9am February 28th) with an additional 25mm+ from 9am
• Ceduna: 75.2mm (to 9am February 28th) with an additional 30mm+ from 9am
• Wudinna: 69.0mm (to 9am February 28th) with an additional 15mm+ from 9am

These rainfall totals represent the heaviest precipitation in several years, and even decades, for many locations in western South Australia.

Victoria Experiences Heavy Falls

Western Victoria too experienced substantial rainfall on February 27th, with several cities recording their highest rainfall in years. Notable totals include:

• Horsham: 96.4mm in 24 hours – the highest fall on record for the city (records began in 1998), with approximately 91.0mm falling in a single hour.
• Longerenong: 52.6mm in 24 hours – the heaviest fall since November 2018 and the heaviest February rain since 1973.
• Warracknabeal: 47.8mm in 24 hours – the heaviest fall since January 2022.
• Edenhope: 32.4mm in 24 hours – the heaviest fall since November 2023 and the heaviest February rain since 2020.
• Kilmore Gap: 24.4mm in 24 hours – the heaviest February rain since 2013.
• Latrobe Valley: 30.2mm in 24 hours – the heaviest February rain since 2015.
• Charlton: 27.2mm in 24 hours.

Forecast and Warnings

Rainfall is expected to continue over South Australia this weekend and gradually move into Victoria and western New South Wales on Monday as a front pushes the weakening low-pressure system eastward. The heaviest rainfall is anticipated with thunderstorms. Over 110,000 lightning strikes were detected within a 300km radius of Mount Gambier on Saturday morning, February 28th, accompanied by 10 to 30mm of rainfall in the surrounding areas.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather and flood warnings for South Australia, western Victoria, and southwest New South Wales, and these warnings are likely to be extended through Sunday and Monday.