SA weather: Adelaide's Feb rainfall average at risk, sweltering conditions expected

Adelaide has received a massive amount of rainfall over the weekend. Since 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, the city has been drenched with as much as 28.2 millimetres of rainfall. With this, the average of February for Adelaide was taken down in a day.

The rain band is expected to continue to loom over the city. If similar conditions persist, the month’s average of 15.4 millimetres could be broken.

Since 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, Adelaide has received 29.2 millimetres of rainfall. Meanwhile, the Mount Lofty Ranges recorded between 30 millimetres and 40 millimetres of rainfall. Almost 44 millimetres of rain fell in Mount Lofty. Heavy fog persisted in the area, causing reduced visibility on Sunday.

The rain band had moved over the state on Sunday, according to Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Tom Boeck. "These sorts of rainfalls are quite unusual for February. It does happen from time to time, but to receive rainfall in the order of 15 to 30mm [in Adelaide] or possibly a bit more, is fairly unusual ... and it's likely a similar story for other parts of the state,” Boeck said.

As the rain band remains over parts of South Australia and into Victoria, the state would receive rainfall “persistently,” according to Weather bureau forecaster Matt Bass said. Nevertheless, South Australia is looking towards a series of scorching days with temperatures expected to remain high.

Victoria was struck by flash flooding, power outages and damage to properties on Sunday. Speaking with AAP (via the Daily Mail), Bureau of Meteorology senior forescaster Rod Dickson said conditions will likely ease on Monday.

Following Monday’s forecast of a mild and cool 24 degrees Celsius, Tuesday is expected to be considerably hotter with mercury levels climbing to 31 degrees Celsius. On Wednesday, temperatures will soar further, reaching 40 degrees Celsius. The conditions will better relatively over Thursday, Friday and Saturday – with temperatures of 37 degrees Celsius – before dipping further on Sunday.

A road weather alert for fog and low cloud in the Adelaide Hills has been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology. The Mid North, the Riverland, Murraylands and the Upper South East have been issued a downy mildew advice message.

The rain band that caused massive rainfall in South Australia over the weekend also led to a plane being diverted from Melbourne to Adelaide. The Emirates flight from Auckland, New Zealand was originally scheduled to land at the Melbourne airport at 8:50 a.m. However, it was diverted to Adelaide in the wake of extremely heavy rainfall.