Huge wind gusts, more storms possible as tens of thousands lose power in Adelaide’s wild weather
Another day, another battering by wild winds and rain in Adelaide and across South Australia.
SA News
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A severe thunderstorm warning for large hailstones and damaging winds was issued for a big chunk of the state, as a wild storm continued to wreak havoc on Monday.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued the warning on Monday afternoon for people in the Yorke Peninsula, Mid North, Kangaroo Island and parts of Flinders and North East Pastoral districts.
The warning states that severe thunderstorms are likely to produce large hailstones and damaging winds in the warning area over the next several hours.
However, just before 4pm the severe thunderstorm warning had been cancelled as weather conditions eased but the Bureau said heavy rainfall may redevelop this afternoon.
Locations which may be affected include Clare, Maitland, Kingscote, Jamestown, Burra and Peterborough.
Earlier on Monday, 4cm hail was reported at Port Pirie.
It came after large hail fell at Port Pirie, with Loma Silsbury sharing a photo to social media of a collection of large stones.
“Hail the size of marbles is falling in Port Pirie,” she posted.
“To reiterate a sentiment which stems from the experience of Christmas 1963 – one White Christmas Down Under is enough for anyone.”
The State Emergency Service has responded to almost 1000 calls for help since wild weather started lashing the state on Friday.
Extreme conditions brought widespread lightning across South Australia, as well as dumping rain, large hail and lashing winds.
SES acting Chief Officer Liz Connell said crews had been called to 900 jobs since Friday, 700 of which had occurred since Sunday night when strong winds whipped up.
By 4pm on Monday, SES had responded to 464 since midnight with 157 incident still ongoing.
Severe thunderstorms also caused 20,000 lightning strikes in the 24 hours to 1pm on Monday.
Power outages have been experienced across vast parts of SA, with more than 34,000 customers still without power at 4pm on Monday.
The blacked-out properties are among a total of 154 separate outages across the state, spanning from the Flinders Ranges in the north to Kangaroo Island in the south and the Murraylands in the state’s east.
There are several customers who are not expected to have power restored until Tuesday at the earliest.
Booleroo and Booleroo Centre in the state’s Mid North are operating on backup generators.
No patients have been transported.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Hannah Marsh said parts of the Eyre Peninsula had seen more than 100mm of rainfall.
Western and central parts of the state had experienced rainfall totals of 30-80mm in the 72 hours to 9am on Monday, she said.
“The highest three-day totals were 125mm at Cowell, 118mm at Winter Springs (and) 100mm at Cleve,” Ms Marsh said.
“And in the Adelaide Hills we saw 104mm at Kyeema and 91mm in parts of the Yorke Peninsula.”
In the city, there has been 50.6mm of rainfall in the past 72 hours – double the December average of 25.9mm.
The heavy rain has caused flooding that have closed several roads in northern parts of the state.
Strong winds on Monday peaked at 102km/h at Cape Borda on Kangaroo Island, 93km/h at Sellicks Hill south of Adelaide, 85km/h at Stenhouse Bay on Yorke Peninsula and 85km/h at Adelaide Airport.
The extreme weather forced several South Australian schools to shut their doors for the day as the power outages took hold.
An Education Department spokesperson said a number of government schools and preschools were closed on Monday morning because of power outages.
“Those sites impacted have advised their school communities directly of the closure, and appreciate the support of their families,” the spokesperson said.
Sites closed included Unley High School, Melrose Primary, Melrose Rural Care, Booleroo Kindergarten, Booleroo Centre District School, Wilmington School and Preschool, Orroroo Preschool and Area School, Newland Park Kindergarten and Willunga Preschool.
Damaging winds of up to 70km/h lashed Adelaide this morning but are set to ease from this afternoon, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
The SES has warned there is a risk of localised flooding for the Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, western parts of the Flinders Ranges and Mid North, and parts of the North West Pastoral areas.
Bizarrely, the CFS has advised a total fire ban is in place for the Murraylands where the forecast fire danger rating is extreme.
Stormy weather again pummelled parts of South Australia overnight, downing trees – leaving thousands of properties without power – and flooding roads.
Some flights were delayed at Adelaide Airport earlier on Monday morning due to the lightning, almost a week after wild weather caused similar issues.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s John Fisher said the crazy weather should start to ease soon.
“There’s some wild weather happening at the moment but it’s generally on an easing trend. And over the next couple of days, looking like some showers on and off, maybe a chance of a storm but … less rainfall and temperatures in the mid 20s,” he told FIVEaa.
Several trees and branches have smashed into properties and cars, including on the corner of Pirie and Pulteney streets in the CBD, Anzac Hwy at Glenelg, Tusmore Ave, Tusmore, and the corner of Dashwood and Glynburn roads at Beaumont.
The wild conditions are expected to ease later on Monday.
Scores of traffic lights were also knocked out, mainly in the east, including at the Fullarton/Greenhill roads intersection.
It follows an hour of power on Sunday that toppled trees and cut electricity supplies to thousands of residents.
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