Flood Watch Issued for South Australia as Heavy Rainfall Threatens Multiple Catchments

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Flood Watch (IDS20374) for parts of South Australia. This alert provides early advice of possible flooding within specified catchments and is currently in its eighth update phase.

Affected Areas

The watch covers an extensive list of catchments and regions across South Australia, including:

• Rivers and Creeks: Angas, Bremer, Broughton, Cooper Creek, Danggali, Finke, Stephenson Creek, Gawler, Light, Wakefield, Onkaparinga, Torrens, and metropolitan rivers.
• Regions: Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Eastern Great Victoria Desert, Fleurieu Peninsula, Flinders Ranges, Kangaroo Island, Lake Eyre, Lake Frome, Lake Gairdner, Limestone and Millicent Coast, Lower Eyre Peninsula, North West Lake Torrens, River Murray in SA, Simpson Desert, Warburton River, West Coast, and Yorke Peninsula.

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the affected areas are advised to take the following precautions:

• Do not drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater as it is dangerous.
• Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and waterways.
• Obey all road closure signs and plan travel ahead to avoid flooded routes.
• Check road conditions before traveling, as many bitumen and dirt outback roads are currently impacted.
• Monitor the ABC and local media for updates, and visit the SES website for local emergency management advice.

Expected Conditions

A slow-moving low pressure system over the southern Northern Territory is extending a trough into northeast South Australia. This system is forecast to produce widespread moderate to heavy rainfall, with locally intense falls possible. Significant accumulated rainfall totals are expected.

Flooding is already occurring in parts of the north-eastern and central catchments. These conditions are likely to become more extensive, affecting larger parts of the watch area. Currently, the east-west railway line is closed to the north-west of Port Augusta, and the majority of major roads in the region are closed, resulting in the isolation of some communities.

Timeline

The alert was issued at 12:31 pm ACDT on Thursday, February 26, 2026. The highest rainfall totals are forecast for the North East Pastoral district during Thursday, with rainfall expected to extend southwards from Friday and continue over the weekend. The current watch is effective through at least 8:01 am UTC on February 27, 2026.