Adelaide will see a warm and increasingly unsettled run of weather, with winds, humidity, showers and thunderstorms heading into the weekend as a tropical low drifts south.
Today, Adelaide will reach a maximum of 30 degrees under mostly sunny skies. Conditions will be blustery, with southeasterly winds of 35 to 50 km/h and the potential for damaging gusts during the morning. Fire danger is rated high in the Mount Lofty Ranges and moderate across the metropolitan area. UV levels are forecast to reach an extreme index of 11.
Thursday will remain mostly sunny and warmer, with temperatures climbing to 33 degrees after a minimum of 17 degrees. Southeasterly winds of 25 to 40 km/h will persist, maintaining elevated fire weather concerns in some districts.
The pattern begins to shift on Friday as moisture associated with a tropical low-pressure system over the southeast of the Northern Territory extends further into South Australia. Adelaide is forecast to reach 32 degrees, with a high chance of showers developing in the afternoon and evening. Between 0 and 20 mm of rainfall is possible, and thunderstorms may form later in the day.
Showery conditions are expected to intensify on Saturday. A possible morning storm and periods of rain are forecast, with a top of 29 degrees. Thunderstorms may again become severe in parts of the state, with heavy rainfall and flash flooding a risk, particularly across pastoral and northern districts.
On Sunday, showers are expected to continue in Adelaide with a maximum of 32 degrees, followed by further shower activity on Monday and Tuesday as the unstable air mass lingers over the region. Temperatures are forecast to remain near 30 degrees to 31 degrees early next week.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that widespread rainfall totals across the agricultural areas may reach 10 to 20 mm by the end of Saturday, with isolated falls of 40 to 80 mm possible in heavier thunderstorms. Across pastoral and Flinders districts, widespread falls of 20 to 50 mm are forecast, with localised totals between 100 and 150 mm and isolated higher falls up to 250 mm possible under repeated severe storm activity.
Flooding is already occurring along Cooper Creek at Innamincka, with elevated river levels also recorded along the Warburton River. A Flood Warning remains in place for Inland Rivers of South Australia, and authorities warn that floodwaters are likely to cut roads and isolate communities.
Strong wind warnings are also current for Adelaide Metropolitan Waters and Adelaide Metropolitan Waters, Far West Coast, Upper West Coast, Lower West Coast, Central Coast, South Central Coast, Spencer Gulf, Gulf St Vincent, Investigator Strait, Upper South East Coast and Lower South East Coast.
Happy Wednesday!
Adelaide 7-Day Summary Forecast:
Wednesday 25 February: Max 30°C – Mostly sunny.
Thursday 26 February: Min 17°C, Max 33°C – Mostly sunny.
Friday 27 February: Min 21°C, Max 32°C – Shower or two.
Saturday 28 February: Min 21°C, Max 29°C – Possible morning storm. Showers.
Sunday 1 March: Min 21°C, Max 32°C – Shower or two.
Monday 2 March: Min 22°C, Max 30°C – Shower or two.
Tuesday 3 March: Min 20°C, Max 31°C – Possible shower.
