The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a frost warning for various regions in South Australia amidst ongoing cold weather conditions. Residents in the Mount Lofty Ranges, Mid North, Riverland, Murraylands, Upper South East, and Lower South East forecast districts should anticipate ground-level temperatures reaching as low as -2 degrees on Wednesday morning. The bureau noted that temperatures at ground level could be significantly lower than those recorded by standard weather stations, particularly under calm and clear sky conditions.
Adelaide (West Terrace) recorded its coldest night on record, plummeting to a frigid 0.6°C at 7:35am. The city hasn’t experienced temperatures this low since July 24, 1908.
It’s expected to warm up a little on Wednesday, with BOM predicting a maximum of 15 degrees. The temperatures are part of a broader cold trend affecting the state.
In response to the severe cold, the South Australian Government initiated a Code Blue extreme winter weather response effective from the evening of July 1st. This initiative is expected to continue until the morning of July 5th. The Code Blue response has been activated statewide, including the Adelaide metropolitan area, Murraylands, Riverland, Limestone|z Coast, Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Upper Spencer Gulf, Far West Coast, Far North, and Copper Coast. It also continues in Clare due to persistent harsh conditions.
The activation of Code Blue is primarily aimed at ensuring that vulnerable populations, especially rough sleepers, have increased access to necessary services and shelter during the coldest months. Several support services have escalated their efforts to provide help. The Baptist Care’s West Care Centre at 11/19 Millers Court in Adelaide will be open for overnight accommodation from 5pm to 7am the following day, from July 1st to July 4th. Additionally, the Toward Home Resolve Team is extending their outreach support from 7am to 8pm throughout the period.
For those in regional areas, the Homeless Connect SA service at 1800 003 308 is available for assistance related to homelessness. This service is accessible any day of the year for individuals facing or at risk of homelessness.
Minister for Human Services, Nat Cook, expressed the importance of the Code Blue activation, “Code Blue activations help the most vulnerable people in our community stay safe, warm and dry during some of the worst winter weather,” Cook stated. She stressed that the forecasted low temperatures necessitated a Code Blue across nearly all regions of the state to ensure the availability of adequate support measures. “We are making additional accommodation and outreach services available to the people who need them the most,” added Cook.
Cook also highlighted the urgency of such measures, noting that between 150 and 200 people are estimated to sleep rough in Adelaide’s inner city on any given night.
