Heavy Rainfall and Flooding Grip South Australia and Victoria, Disrupting Travel and Services

Widespread Deluge Across Southern Australia

A persistent low-pressure system has brought intense and, in some areas, record-breaking rainfall to South Australia and Victoria since February 25, 2026. This slow-moving weather event, drawing humid tropical air from the north, has resulted in widespread flooding, significant travel disruptions, and numerous calls for emergency services across both states. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued severe weather and flood warnings, with further heavy rain expected over the coming days.

Record Rainfall Totals and Immediate Impacts

Many regions have experienced their heaviest rainfall in years, and in some cases, decades. By February 25, parts of northern South Australia and Central Australia had already exceeded 200 mm (7.9 inches) of rain.

Specific 24-hour rainfall totals to February 28, 2026, highlight the intensity of the event:

• South Australia:
  • Ooldea: 180mm
  • Perlubie: 124mm
  • Wirrulla: 120mm
  • Minnipa: 103mm
  • Ceduna: 75.2mm (wettest day on record for the location)
  • Wudinna: 69.0mm (wettest day on record for the location)
• Victoria:
  • Horsham: 96.4mm (heaviest fall on record since 1998, with approximately 91.0mm falling in one hour)
  • Longerenong: 52.6mm (heaviest fall since November 2018, and heaviest February rain since 1973)
  • Warracknabeal: 47.8mm (heaviest fall since January 2022)

These extreme rainfall figures have led to significant disruptions. Localized flooding has forced the closure of several outback highways, and sections of the Trans-Australian Railway near Port Augusta were temporarily suspended due to inundation and washouts. In Victoria, the State Emergency Service (VICSES) has received hundreds of calls for assistance related to flash flooding, fallen trees, and power outages affecting thousands of customers. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas warned residents to prepare for flash flooding, especially in Adelaide, where significant falls were forecast.

Emergency Response and Ongoing Warnings

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has maintained severe weather warnings for heavy, locally intense rainfall across affected regions, including the North West Pastoral and North East Pastoral districts of South Australia, and parts of western Victoria and New South Wales. Flood Watches and Warnings are active for numerous catchments across South Australia, such as the Flinders Ranges Rivers and Creeks, Lake Eyre, and the River Murray in SA, with warnings extending to western Victoria and southwest New South Wales. Authorities have urged the public to avoid driving or walking through floodwaters and to heed local warnings, as conditions can change rapidly.

Outlook and Meteorological Context

Meteorologists, including Ben Domesino of Weatherzone, have described the event as a 'remarkable and highly unusual meteorological event,' noting the low's prolonged presence over central Australia and its unusually deep and persistent corridor of tropical moisture. Rainfall is expected to persist over South Australia throughout the weekend, gradually shifting eastward into Victoria and western New South Wales by Monday, March 2, 2026. Daily rainfall totals exceeding 100mm are still possible in South Australia over the weekend, with similar rates anticipated in Victoria on Monday, accompanied by widespread thunderstorm activity.