Lightning strikes, power outage as SA hit with unseasonal spring storm

There’s more wild weather on the way as a polar blast sweeps SA - which means rain for race day and possibly even snow in the Flinders Ranges.

South Australia will shiver through a cold snap this week to start the last month of spring - so cold the Flinder Ranges might even get a dusting of snow.

The Bureau of Meteorology on Monday most of Australia will continue to be hit with unseasonal cold, wet weather, while the NT and Queensland will face extreme heatwaves.

For SA, that could mean a dusting of snow in the Flinders and more rain and 15C forecast in Adelaide for Melbourne Cup day.

“Snow flurries (intermittent light snowfall of short duration) above 900 m are possible for the Flinders Ranges in South Australia on Tuesday morning,” a BOM statement said on Monday evening.

Damaged caused by the 139km/h winds recorded at Oodnadatta, where storms ripped through. Picture: Pink Roadhouse Oodnadatta

Lightning over Oodnadatta during the storm. Picture: Pink Roadhouse Oodnadatta

The storm at Oodnadatta even toppled a Stobie pole ... Picture: Pink Roadhouse Oodnadatta

“On Tuesday, cold, wet, and windy weather will spread across much of South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, and southern New South Wales.”

.. and forced trees down, pulling up bricks. Picture: Pink Roadhouse Oodnadatta,

Severe weather warnings were issued across swathes of the state on Sunday and Monday as a low-pressure system tore through.

Approximately 75,000 lightning strikes were recorded over a 24-hour period to Monday morning with wild winds with gusts of up to 120km/h and heavy rain reported across the Mid-North.

The wet weather is also believed to have caused a rock slide on Gorge Rd, Montacute. The speed limit is down to 25km/h while crews carry out repairs.

SA Power Networks reported around 1,700 were without power near Christies Beach and Noarlunga on Monday morning with various outages popping up across the Eyre Peninsula due to storm activity.

However, SES state duty officer Ian Bonython said there was no major damage to report.

“There was a good split between the north and south regions, with around 70 calls for assistance for each,” he said.

“There were some loose tiles and branches down,” he said.

More than 75,000 lightening strikes were recorded as a low-pressure system tore through SA, Picture: Chris Munro/File

Arcuna Bluff located between Leigh Creek and Arkaroola was saturated with 32mm from 9am yesterday.

Moving south, the falls began to ease – Clare recorded 26mm and on reaching metropolitan areas the wet weather system dropped 4.4mm on the CBD.

The city can expect plenty more rainfall and possible thunderstorms with up to 20mm forecast on Monday and Tuesday before the front begins to ease. Halloween fans should prepare for soggy trick or treating.

The first day of November will only reach a top of 15C, well below the seasonal average in the mid 20s.

Meanwhile, a fire ban was issued for the northeast pastoral district amid “extreme” conditions.

A flood advice message was issued on Friday for River Murray residents between the SA/Victoria border and Lock 1.

Loxton recorded 16mm from 9am Sunday, with the flow into the River Murray at the border currently at 85 gigalitres per day and is expected to reach 100GL per day by early November.

Flows into SA have not been this high since 2016. As this higher flow moves into the warning area over the next two weeks, it will raise the River Murray to Minor Flood level.

The SASES has estbalished sandbag pick up locations in Berri, Loxton, Mount Mary, Murray Bridge, Renmark and Waikerie.