Severe Weather Warning: Intense Rainfall and Life-Threatening Flash Flooding for Northeast South Australia

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Severe Weather Warning (ID: IDS21037) for heavy and locally intense rainfall. This high-priority alert is currently in effect for the North East Pastoral district and portions of the Flinders and North West Pastoral districts in South Australia.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad region of northeast South Australia. Specific locations that may be impacted include:

• Leigh Creek
• Moomba
• Oodnadatta
• Marree
• Innamincka
• Dalhousie Springs

What You Should Do

The State Emergency Service (SES) advises residents and travelers in the affected areas to take the following precautions:

• Do not drive, ride, or walk through flood water.
• Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
• Stay indoors and away from windows while conditions remain severe.
• Monitor local Flood Watches and Warnings which are currently active for the area.

Expected Conditions

A slow-moving low pressure system over the southern Northern Territory, combined with an extremely humid tropical airmass and a deepening trough, is creating conditions for significant precipitation.

• Heavy Rainfall: Six-hourly totals between 30 and 60 mm are likely. 24-hourly totals are expected to range between 50 and 80 mm, with isolated peaks of up to 130 mm.
• Intense Rainfall: Isolated thunderstorms may produce locally intense rainfall of approximately 110 mm within a six-hour period, which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding.

Timeline

The risk of heavy rainfall is forecast to persist through Tuesday and Wednesday. This is expected to be a prolonged event for northeast South Australia, with periods of heavy rainfall likely to continue for most of the week. The next update from the Bureau of Meteorology is scheduled for 5:00 pm ACDT Tuesday.