As Adelaide mops up after wild storms brought flooding and cut power to hundreds of homes, another state was in the firing line on Friday.
The trough and associated low-pressure system that brought up to 100 millimetres of rain to parts of Adelaide and surrounding areas on Thursday night was moving east across Victoria and far southern NSW on Friday.
As widespread rain fell across much of south-eastern Australia and the high country lined up for further snow on Friday afternoon, there was most alarm for Tasmania.
“Tas disappears off weather map,” forecaster Weatherzone wrote – alongside a rain radar image showing the island state obscured by a band of heavy rain.
“We sometimes tend to think of Tassie having its own weather that is unrelated to what’s happening on the mainland. But today’s soggy conditions are all part of the same broad weather system that broad heavy rain to SA and that is now crossing Vic and southern NSW.
“Indeed, Tasmania is experiencing a northeasterly stream this Friday, which is the same (somewhat unusual for winter) direction that the winds came from during Adelaide’s Thursday drenching.”
The heavy rain was expected to be largely confined to eastern Tasmania, with Hobart getting more than 20 millimetres of rain on Thursday night. More rain was falling on Friday.
The Bureau of Meteorology had issued widespread flood and road alerts for Tasmania for Friday. See full details here.
Tweet from @tasalert
And another unimpressive winter weekend is on the way across the south-eastern states.
“Unsettled weather will persist for most of southern Australia for at least the next few days as this complex system of lows, cold fronts and troughs continues to cross the region,” Weatherzone said.
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Adelaide floods after deluge
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Storms hit Adelaide
The South Australian State Emergency Service carried out seven swift water rescues on Thursday as heavy rain swelled rivers and dams, with flood warnings issued, roads closed and thousands of homes blacked out across Adelaide and the Hills.
The SES said it had responded to 240 calls for assistance, mostly relating to property damage and riverine flooding.
Dave O’Shannassy from the State Emergency Service said flooded roads and debris posed a significant risk to drivers.
“We’re just asking commuters to plan their travel, it’s never safe to drive into floodwaters so please make sure you find an alternative route if you are faced with that,” Mr O’Shannassy told ABC TV.
He also asked property owners to do what they could to prepare before the weekend deluge.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a moderate flood warning for the Onkaparinga River in the Hills area.
About 70 millimetres of rain fell on Thursday, with more expected on Friday.
The water level at Oakbank was at 3.24 metres and rising while in nearby Woodside the river had risen to 2.35 metres.
A dam at Lenswood east of Adelaide has also spilled over creating a road hazard.
-with AAP
