Flood rescues, blackouts, road closures as heavy rain hits Adelaide
UPDATED: Mount Barker Rd near Onkaparinga Valley Rd at Hahndorf has reopened this morning but Waterfall Gully Rd and Lobethal Rd remain closed after heavy rain swelled rivers and dams overnight, with flood warnings issued and thousands of homes blacked out across Adelaide and the Hills.
Bureau of Meteorology radar images of a heavy rain band overnight overnight. Photo: BoM/Facebook
The State Emergency Service (SES) received hundreds of calls for help and says it carried out seven swift water rescues “as people became trapped in fast-rising floodwater”, while the rising Onkaparinga River forced the closure of Mt Barker Rd near Onkaparinga Valley Rd at Verdun which has since reopened.
The Hahndorf/Verdun off ramp from the South Eastern Freeway also closed at 4am, as did River Road at Hahndorf, but both have since reopened to traffic.
Lobethal Rd near Monomeith Rd at Ashton is also closed, with debris on the road near Basket Range Rd.
SA Power Networks said after 7am that more than 2000 homes remain blacked out around Coromandel Valley, Blackwood, Hawthorndene and Craigburn Farm, while hundreds of properties around the Hills including Mylor, Carey Gully and Uraidla also lost power. As of 9.30am the number of blackouts had reduced, though more than 1400 customers in the state remain without power.
Cars have been caught up in the torrential rain and flooding in the Adelaide Hills, with many road closures already in place. @9NewsAdel pic.twitter.com/HXvx82zugM
— Kelly Hughes (@KellyCHughes_) June 22, 2023
A flood advice warning was issued for Swamp Rd at Lenswood due to a dam spillway ‘overtopping’, while a flood watch and act warning was issued for Waterfall Gully Rd residents due to First Creek flooding, with the road closed.
#FLOOD Watch and Act MESSAGE issued for Waterfall Gully Rd. If you are in this area you should prepare for flooding. Move valuables to a safe place. Consider going to a safer place if the path is clear. More info: https://t.co/cmwnsWmRuc
— SASES (@SA_SES) June 22, 2023
The Bureau of Meteorology reported 56.8mm of rain fell at Mt Lofty since 9am yesterday, Adelaide CBD recorded 41mm, Parawa West recorded 43mm, while some Aldgate residents this morning reported overnight rain gauge reading of up to 90mm.
Wind gusts of 67km/h were recorded at Adelaide Airport, and 65km/h at Mt Lofty.
Prior to reopening the off ramp, SA Police said advised motorists trying to enter Hahndorf to continue to the Mt Barker exit or take the earlier exit at Bridgewater.
They also said it was unclear when the roads would be closed.
“Mount Barker Road at Hahndorf, between the Onkaparinga Valley Road roundabout and River Road is currently closed due to flood water from the Onkaparinga River which has breached its bank,” police said.
“Flood waters are too high for vehicles to travel through, and at this stage it is unknown how long the roads will be affected by this flooding. Motorists are advised to find alternate routes.”
