Weather News

Cut-off low set to traverse South Australia

Craig McIntosh, Wednesday August 22, 2018 - 12:58 AEST

A low currently moving over the Bight will cut-off from the westerly circulation by Thursday, moving inland over SA and generating strong winds, showers and thunderstorms.

The low, extending from higher up in the atmosphere down to the surface, will likely cross the SA coast somewhere between Ceduna and Port Kenny on Thursday morning, with the strongest winds being the onshore flow on the western flank of the system. Wind gusts may exceed 90km/h on the West Coast, putting them in the damaging range. The gusts will be strongest during the morning, easing throughout the day as the system moves inland and over the pastorals.

More welcome than the winds will be the rainfall associated with the low. Some parts of the West Coast may receive over 20-30mm from the system, with a chance similar falls could stretch across the Eyre Peninsula. Unfortunately, the areas of SA with the most rainfall deficiencies, such as far eastern parts, will largely miss out on the rain as the system tracks northeast across the state. However, a large area of the North West and North East Pastorals will get some rain, albeit light and patchy in the northeast of the state.

The low will also trigger a few thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday, and with these come the hope of some heavier downpours. The storms are likely to be very isolated, which is normal with these winter storm systems. Small hail can also be produced by these types of thunderstorms.

By late Friday night, the cut off low will have moved away from SA, bringing some much needed rains to parts of Qld and NSW.

- Weatherzone

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