Australia Weather News

A South Australian council has issued a warning to beachgoers after boulders fell from a cliff face at a popular beach. 

The mass rockfall happened over the weekend near Port Willunga's historic man-made caves and jetty pylons, one of the most photographed spots in the state.

City of Onkaparinga Mayor Moira Were said no-one was injured when the cliff collapsed around Friday night into the early hours of Saturday.

"I know we have [rain] over the last 24 hours, but we've had a pretty long dry spell and then that plus rain can also impact on the changing coastline of those lovely cliffs at the beach," she told 891 ABC Adelaide.

"It's a very normal process to have a bit of collapse from time to time."

Ms Were said the council would leave the debris on the beach to remind the community of the risks.

"That also reminds people that it's a visible indicator," she said.

"Look, there is a hazard here and it also helps people actually understand the natural collapsing that does happen from time to time."

She warned beachgoers to keep about 20 metres away from the cliff base  and to avoid entering the caves.

Rain record broken

Meanwhile, northern parts of South Australia experienced massive rainfalls on Monday.

Marree received 119 millimetres since 9am Monday, which was the highest daily rainfall in 29 years, the Bureau of Meteorology's Morgan Pumpa said.

It broke the previous record of 93mm in September 2020.

Ms Pumpa told ABC North and West SA the rain gauge reached 80.6mm at Oodnadatta, 53.4mm at Leigh Creek, 35.8mm at Whyalla and 35.4mm at Snowtown.

"While we've also seen a number of other places where we've seen the highest rainfall for this year, [it's] not unusual coming out of summer," Ms Pumpa told ABC North and West SA.

A severe weather warning for heavy, locally intense rainfall has been issued for the North East Pastoral on Tuesday.

Last month, large parts of South Australia experienced heavy rainfall over a 48-hour period, with daily total records tumbling for various towns.

Marree roadhouse owner Lyle Oldfield said he could not recall a time the town has seen such heavy rainfall.

"There is so much water around, it's unbelievable, but green — I've lived here 70-odd years — and I don't think I've seen it so green," he said.

Pastoralist Douglas Lillecrapp said 163mm fell in February at Todmorden Station, 82km north-west of Oodnadatta.

"This is really going to make the country really respond really well, but it already has responded really well, there's brilliant green feed here," he said.

"It makes it very difficult to carry on with your work program with cattle and that, because now coming into March, we're supposed to be starting to muster and mark up all our calves."

He said the rain has provided a challenge on the roads.

"Oodnadatta Track was only open for heavy vehicles [on Saturday] and we actually trucked a load of cattle out, and I knew I only had a very small window to get them out," Mr Lillecrapp said.

"It's very difficult to get supplies here. I've got a pile of stuff down in Adelaide that's got to come up here, like building materials and shipping containers, just odds and ends that we need on the cattle station."