Weather News

Wild weather fizzles out before hitting Adelaide

An intense low pressure system that delivered destructive winds, rain and storms to Western Australia earlier in the week has traversed southern South Australia. The low delivered a blast of gusty winds to the state's south yet damage was minimal and rainfall scarce.

The strongest recorded gusts last night were 105km/h at Cape Borda, 100km/h at Neptune Island, 95km/h at Coles Point and 90km/h at Port Lincoln. The low pressure system weakened rapidly as it moved east of Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island. By the time the system reached the Adelaide region, winds had begun to abate and Mt Crawford in the hills recorded the strongest gusts, 81km/h.

This system produced the windiest day in two years at Cape Borda and Port Lincoln. It was also the highest wind since last spring for most of the rest of Eyre Peninsula where the wind was strong enough to stir up dust and reduce visibility to only two kilometres.

While the winds were severe, the low brought little in the way of rainfall. The highest falls were in the Eyre Peninsula, with Coles Point receiving 26mm. Adelaide stayed drier, however, with only seven millimetres.

The inclement weather kept temperatures in the south close to average with Adelaide reaching 18 degrees. In the north, however, clearer skies due to drier northerly winds allowed conditions to warm up and Coober Pedy had its warmest June day in seven years, getting to 26.5 degrees.

As the low tracks to the southeast, the wind and showers are easing. The system will continue to direct moist winds into South Australia, however, possibly producing coastal showers. The wind and showers should ease again by Sunday as a high pressure system moves into the state.

A severe weather warning for gale force winds was cancelled this morning.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2012

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