Adelaide shivers through coldest December day in 50 years after reaching 35C the day before

Adelaide has shivered through its coldest December day in 50 years, thanks to a large low pressure system sitting over Victoria - after reaching 35C the day before.

• Severe weather warning issued for SA as winter returns
• Floodwaters swamp major national highway

Adelaide has shivered through its coldest December day since 1968, with the mercury barely climbing above 16C.

From a high of 35C on Wednesday, the maximum temperature at the West Tce weather station came crashing down to a chilly 16.4C at 9am, and from there, it only got colder across the state.

At Mt Lofty, the temperature dropped to 7.9C at 6.18pm while Mt Crawford bottomed out at 9C.

The cold weather was ushered in by a dramatic cold front late on Wednesday evening that was accompanied by rain and destructive winds, which downed trees and powerlines across the metropolitan area.

Power outage at Westfield West Lakes. Shops closed - some working in darkness. Not ideal with Christmas shopping in full swing! @7NewsAdelaide pic.twitter.com/YfL66sGhGU

— Gertie Spurling (@GertieSpurling7) December 13, 2018

Thousands were left without power on Thursday, with more than 4000 properties still in the dark at 6pm last night. A large swath of Tailem Bend was blacked out, affecting 1310 customers.

The highest recorded rainfall as the cold front hit was in the South-East, with 22mm at Mt Gambier Airport, 18mm at Padthaway and Robe and 15mm at Naracoorte.

On Thursday night, a severe weather warning was in place from Port Pirie in the Mid North all the way to Beachport in the South-East.

Damaging winds with gusts of up to 90km/h were predicted as part of a large low pressure system in Victoria that is causing mass gale force winds.

The worst of the winds were late on Thursday and will continue into the early hours of Friday.

The South-East is expected to bear the brunt of the winds with residents in Mt Gambier, Robe, Clare, Minlaton, Victor Harbor, Murray Bridge and Kingscote warned to brace for the damaging system.

A marine gale-force wind warning is in place for Adelaide Metropolitan Waters, Central Coast, South Central Coast, Spencer Gulf, Gulf St Vincent, Investigator Strait, Upper South-East Coast and Lower South-East Coast.