Weather News

Wild night of wind, rain ahead for SA

Ben Domensino, Thursday January 12, 2017 - 17:48 AEDT

Parts of South Australia are bracing for a night of heavy rain and storms, with the threat of flooding and wind damage.

A cold front and low pressure trough drawing in moisture from the tropics will travel over the state tonight and on Friday morning, generating rain and storms.

Rain has already started in the southwest and will spread to central districts overnight and eastern areas on Friday morning. The period of wet weather will last between 10-15 hours for most of the stateâ??s agricultural areas, with the heaviest falls near the front and trough as they pass through, or with storms.

Rainfall totals of 20-60mm are expected over western, central and southern districts, including Adelaide, with isolated totals reaching 80mm with thunderstorm activity.

These falls are capable of causing flash and river flooding. A Flood Watch has been issued for the West Coast, North West Pastoral, Upper and Lower Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, Mid North, Kangaroo Island and Mount Lofty Ranges Districts.

A severe weather warning was also issued this afternoon across all southern districts, the Mid North and parts of the Murraylands, southern Flinders and North West Pastoral district for flash flooding and damaging winds. These dangerous conditions are most likely to be associated with thunderstorms ahead of and with the front on Friday morning.

Drier and calmer weather will return to the state's southern half on Friday afternoon as the trough moves north and east, although showers and storms will continue in the north.

This system will also cause rain and strong, potentially damaging winds in parts of Victoria and Tasmania on Friday.

For the latest warnings, visit: http://www.weatherzone.com.au/warnings.jsp

- Weatherzone

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