Courier’s car crushed by tree as gusty cold front sweeps SA

A courier parked on The Parade has escaped injury after a tree crashed down on his car as gusty and stormy weather swept Adelaide.

A courier has been left stranded during his rounds after his car was crushed by a fallen tree as winds and rain pick up across South Australia.

Around 1.45pm, courier Jake was making his rounds on The Parade at Norwood when a tree limb came crashing down on to his car.

The gum’s trunk can be seen split down the middle and is blocking the thoroughfare.

Jake told The Advertiser he had parked in a loading zone and was “lucky to be gone for 10 minutes”.

“In that time a tree pretty much collapsed on my work car,” he said.

“I’m feeling lucky, but shocked, I don’t know what to do … the windshield is smashed.”

Norwood, Payneham and St Peters mayor Robert Bria said council workers were removing the fallen branch.

“There were, according to the arborists, no identifying signs of potential limb failure in those trees when they were inspected shortly before the Norwood Christmas pageant last year,” he said.

Mr Bria said the trees undergo annual inspections, and it was his understanding 20 had either fallen or been removed since being planted in 1988.

“Council staff have organised an inspection of the tree tomorrow,” he said. “They are confident the tree is stable.”

The wild weather has prompted multiple warnings from authorities.

The gusty conditions have brought down a tree on courier Jake’s car. Picture: Miles Kemp

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds on Thursday afternoon for the Murraylands and parts of the Mount Lofty Ranges, Mid North, Riverland and Upper South East districts.

A vigorous cold front is moving rapidly eastwards through the southeast of the state and is producing damaging winds averaging 50-65 km/h with peak gusts expected in excess of 90 km/h.

Meanwhile, a Murraylands community has been warned of water level rises as change brings unseasonal weather conditions.

The State Emergency Service issued an alert on Thursday morning, advising the combination of gusty winds and high tides over coming days could see minor river level rises south of Murray Bridge and in the Lower Lakes.

The conditions are expected to be similar to those experienced in the region in mid November, which saw inundation in areas including Mundoo.

Levels have started dropping at Murray Bridge. Not much access at the reserve Jan 22, 2023. Picture: Mark Farrell / Facebook

Wave-like action could also be prompted in parts of the River Murray south of Murray Bridge and water may seep onto roads.

Riverland MP Tim Whetstone said the conditions would be monitored.

“I think we need to be more vigilant than ever.”

“The wave action and tides will put added pressure on levees … that could prove detrimental.”

Mr Whetstone said all flood barriers should be monitored in the coming days.

South Australian State Emergency Services said it is “highly unlikely residents will need to evacuate.”

“Wave-like action is a common occurrence in the Lower Lakes area due to its geographical location and is not expected to cause irreparable damage to any area,” a spokesman said.

The weather change will sweep its way over South Australia on Tuesday.

SA will be hit with a wintry blast on Thursday afternoon. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Earlier, Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Mark Analak said the shower activity will be accompanied by westerly winds mainly about the southern suburbs.

However, a south-westerly shift is expected to come through around lunchtime, starting in the south, before making it’s way towards the north.

“It looks like a bit of winter afternoon,” Mr Analak told ABC Radio.

Adelaide is forecast to reach a top of 20C on Thursday, followed by 19C on Friday.

Towards the west, Port Lincoln and Ceduna will reach a top of 21C on Thursday and high teens to low 20s on Friday.

Mount Gambier will linger in the high teens before temperatures rise again early next week.

Adelaide is expected to make it to 30C on Monday, and will rise to 32 by Wednesday.

Temperatures in Port Lincoln and Ceduna will settle in the low to mid 20s for the week.

Only a week ago, the state enjoyed sunny conditions on January’s public holiday before temperatures reached scorching heights last Friday.