Forecast

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
South Australia

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Severe Weather Warning
for Heavy, Locally Intense Rainfall

for North East Pastoral and parts of North West Pastoral districts.

Issued at 4:51 am Tuesday, 17 March 2026.

HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE NORTH WITH LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL POSSIBLE, MORE LIKELY NORTH OF MARREE.

Weather Situation
A tropical low situated about the border with NT is feeding rich tropical moisture along a surface trough to its southeast. Meanwhile an upper trough is moving across the southwest of SA. The combination of these two systems is continuing to bring the risk of heavy rainfall to northeastern parts of the state today through to Wednesday.
HEAVY, LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL for the following areas:
North West Pastoral and North East Pastoral
HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast for parts of the North West Pastoral and North East Pastoral districts today. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 50 and 80 mm are likely.
INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING is locally possible within the warning area, more likely in northwestern parts of the North East Pastoral district. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 80 and 100 mm are likely, with falls up to 120 mm possible. 24-hourly rainfall totals between 80 and 120 mm are likely, with isolated falls around 180 mm possible.
INTENSE RAINFALL may begin to ease later today.
Flood Watches and Warnings are current for the area. Please refer to https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts/ for more information.
Locations which may be affected include Marla, Moomba, Oodnadatta, Marree, Innamincka and Dalhousie Springs.
99.0 mm was recorded at Marree in the 9 hours to 4:00am.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Don't drive, ride or walk through flood water;
* Keep clear of creeks and storm drains;
* Stay indoors, away from windows, while conditions are severe.

The next Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 11:00 am ACDT Tuesday.
Check https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts. Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts or call 1300 659 210. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
South Australia

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Severe Weather Warning
for Heavy, Locally Intense Rainfall

for North East Pastoral and parts of North West Pastoral districts.

Issued at 4:51 am Tuesday, 17 March 2026.

HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE NORTH WITH LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL POSSIBLE, MORE LIKELY NORTH OF MARREE.

Weather Situation
A tropical low situated about the border with NT is feeding rich tropical moisture along a surface trough to its southeast. Meanwhile an upper trough is moving across the southwest of SA. The combination of these two systems is continuing to bring the risk of heavy rainfall to northeastern parts of the state today through to Wednesday.
HEAVY, LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL for the following areas:
North West Pastoral and North East Pastoral
HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast for parts of the North West Pastoral and North East Pastoral districts today. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 50 and 80 mm are likely.
INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING is locally possible within the warning area, more likely in northwestern parts of the North East Pastoral district. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 80 and 100 mm are likely, with falls up to 120 mm possible. 24-hourly rainfall totals between 80 and 120 mm are likely, with isolated falls around 180 mm possible.
INTENSE RAINFALL may begin to ease later today.
Flood Watches and Warnings are current for the area. Please refer to https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts/ for more information.
Locations which may be affected include Marla, Moomba, Oodnadatta, Marree, Innamincka and Dalhousie Springs.
99.0 mm was recorded at Marree in the 9 hours to 4:00am.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Don't drive, ride or walk through flood water;
* Keep clear of creeks and storm drains;
* Stay indoors, away from windows, while conditions are severe.

The next Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 11:00 am ACDT Tuesday.
Check https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts. Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts or call 1300 659 210. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology, Australia

Flood Watch For Parts Of North And North-West South Australia
Issued at 11:30 AM ACDT on Monday 16 March 2026
Flood Watch Number: 4
FLOODING POSSIBLE IN PARTS OF THE NORTH AND NORTH-WEST CATCHMENTS FROM MONDAY

Catchments likely to be affected include:
Warburton River
Cooper Creek
Lake Eyre
Finke River and Stephenson Creek
Simpson Desert
Eastern Great Victoria Desert
Warburton District Rivers

Flood warnings are current for the following catchments: Warburton and Cooper (for floodwaters arriving from QLD)

For the latest flood and weather warnings see www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts
For the latest rainfall and river level information see www.bom.gov.au/australia/flood

Flood Safety Advice:
Don't drive, walk, swim or play in floodwater because it is dangerous.
Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams and waterways.
Obey road closure signs. Plan ahead so you don't drive on flooded roads.
Check the ABC and local media for updates. The situation can change quickly, so stay informed.
For local emergency management warnings and advice visit www.ses.sa.gov.au/incidents-and-warnings/incidents-and-warnings-map/.}
For emergency assistance call SES on telephone number 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 (triple zero) immediately.

Next issue:
The next Flood Watch will be issued by 12:00 PM ACDT on Tuesday 17 March 2026.