Flood alerts after heavy rains hit Riverland, Mid North
The State Emergency Service has been active responding to calls for help across the state’s Riverland and Mid North after heavy rainfalls prompted localised flooding and road closures over the weekend.
High water on the River Murray has seen road closures across the Riverland. Photo: David Beaton
A flood watch and act warning remains in place for Stockport in South Australia’s Mid North, while a flood advice message was issued at 10pm for Renmark and Berri due to “severe thunderstorms” which have led to flash flooding.
#FLOOD Advice MESSAGE issued for Renmark and Berri. If you are in this area you should prepare for flooding. Move valuables to a safe place and, if safe to do so, clear drains and gutters. More info: https://t.co/UophfTSE7W ID:367/3
— SASES (@SA_SES) October 23, 2022
The Bureau of Meteorology reported shortly before 5am on Monday that 95mm of rainfall had fallen on Renmark since 9am on Sunday.
Nearby, Loxton received 34mm of rainfall, while Clare in the state’s Mid North recorded 41.8mm of rainfall between 5am and 11am on Sunday.
The BoM issued a severe weather warning this morning for continued heavy rainfall across the Riverland, Murraylands, Upper South East and Lower South East districts.
“Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is possible early this morning,” the BoM alert said.
“Three-hourly rainfall totals between 20 to 30 mm are possible early this morning.”
The BoM earlier on Sunday issued an initial flood warning for the Light and Wakefield Rivers due to “significant rainfalls” which have led to rising creek and river levels.
The SES said it responded to more than 70 calls for assistance on Sunday in the state’s Mid North due to localised flooding.
The rainfall had caused a number of road closures across the Mid North, the SES said, with a motorist trapped in floodwaters among the calls for assistance.
Heavy rains have inundated roads in the state’s Mid North. Photo: SAPOL
Sandbags have been made available in Stockport and Tarlee to help residents prepare for potential flooding.
The SES is advising people in Stockport to “prepare your family and home for flooding” ahead of further rainfall today.
“If your plan is to leave, if you require time to leave or if you are not prepared, you should consider leaving now,” the SES alert states.
“Only leave if you are certain that the path is clear to a safer place.”
The SES is advising people in Renmark and Berri to also prepare for flooding, move items to a safe place and ensure their drains and gutters are clear “if it is safe to do so”.
The state government released forecasting last week predicting that up to 120 gigalitres a day could be streaming down the River Murray into South Australia by early December from flood-hit Victoria.
It would mark the highest River Murray flows since 1975.
