Adelaide's wettest start to year in 20yrs

Adelaide has had its wettest start to the year in at least two decades, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) says.

But it's also been 0.83 degrees hotter than average across South Australia, the bureau says.

More than 52mm fell in Adelaide throughout January, with more than two-thirds of this hitting the city within the space of 48 hours last week.

Kalamurina in SA's far north recorded its highest January rainfall on record with 179.4mm falling over the same period.

The relief came after hot and dry conditions led to heatwaves across the state, together with fires on Kangaroo Island and in the Clare Valley earlier in January.

The Nullarbor region in SA's far west recorded the hottest day of 45.5 degrees while Mt Lofty in the Adelaide Hills recorded the coldest day of 12.4 degrees.

Wetter conditions continued into February with ex-tropical cyclone Stan causing flooding in Adelaide, the Fleurieu Peninsula and Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula on Tuesday.

BoM said Adelaide received its average monthly rainfall of about 13mm in a matter of hours, leading to water damage and evacuations in the old Supreme Court building.

Part of a shopping mall ceiling collapsed in Victor Harbor after the town received 18mm.

Port Lincoln's CBD was flooded by 50mm of rain, with images posted on social media showing water levels well up the walls of many businesses and other buildings.