The SES has been responding to hundreds of requests as lightning, thunder and heavy rain batter Adelaide

The SES is responding to a number of calls for help, as heavy rain smashes Adelaide. See the pictures.

The State Emergency Service has been inundated with requests for help after storms and heavy rainfall lashed suburban Adelaide.

SES south regional co-ordinator Stephanie Zakrzewski said the most intense period of rainfall was between 6-9am Tuesday morning.

The Mitcham area was hit particularly hard, with 45mm falling between 6-7am.

“The weather was anticipated, but the intensity of that downpour was quite sudden,” she said.

“Whilst the weather is now moving through and past the metropolitan area, we would like people to still be mindful that there could still be some intense wind gusts later this afternoon.”

Most of the callouts were related to water entering homes or flooded roads but the SES also responded to a person trapped in a car at Wayville.

The majority of the tasks came through from the southern suburbs, and all are expected to be attended to by the end of the day.

Ms Zakrzewski said the storms were now moving through the east of the state.

“We’ll continue to work with the community as those requests for assistance come through,” she said.

She reminded people to be mindful of the risks associated with flash flooding, and urged motorists to avoid driving through floodwaters.

Early morning chaos

Stormy weather caused peak-morning chaos, with Adelaide in the firing line on Tuesday morning after other parts of the state were lashed on Monday.

The steady flash of lightning and boom of thunder continued for hours as the storm grounded flights, downed trees and powerlines, knocked out traffic lights and flooded roads across the city and suburbs.

Schools reported flood damage and two Department for Education sites were closed this morning – a preschool at Morphett Vale East and a children’s centre at Parks.

“As at 10am a number of schools have reported some leaks, flooding or damage to the department, but are continuing to operate safely,” a Department for Education spokesperson said.

“We will work with those schools and contractors to arrange repairs as quickly as possible.”

Incoming and outgoing flights were grounded at Adelaide Airport this morning.

Both Qantas and Virgin have started to work through the backlog of delayed flights with reports passengers have started boarding flights again around 8am.

Passengers are advised to check with their airline before heading to the airport.

Gallery: Thunderbolts and lightning slam Adelaide

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Businesses have also been inundated with water – including Foliage Cafe at Norwood – and power outages.

Flash flooding hit the Arkaba Village underground car park with about 20cm of water, stranding early morning shoppers.

Among them was Jordan Davis, in town for a three-day meeting and staying at the Arkaba Hotel.

He said he would wait out the water receding before tackling Adelaide roads and closures.

The left-turn lane for city-bound commuters on Glen Osmond Rd is closed due to flash flooding.

As of 7.30am, there were 38 power outages and more than 7,000 premises without power – down from 14,000 at one point on Tuesday, as heavy rain, lightning and thunder pummelled Adelaide.

In the Mid Murray Council area there are almost 3000 customers without power in the towns of Mannum, Swan Reach and Cambari.

Jordan Davis waiting for the water to recede from the Arkaba Village car park. Picture: Tara Miko

The worst hit areas in the metropolitan area have now been restored, with 3000 properties that were without power around Ashford Hospital, Plympton and Mile End now up and running.

Earlier, more than 4000 were without power at Nuriootpa and Truro but those customers have also had electricity restored.

One of the worst affected roads is the corner of Fullarton and Glen Osmond roads at Parkside, where video shows water at a frighteningly-deep level. The South Rd/Anzac Hwy intersection, Goodwood Rd at Wayville, parts of Greenhill Rd, South Tce and Hutt St are also affected.

And on the corner of Opie Ave and King William Rd at Hyde Park a car has become trapped in a flooded manhole.

Adding to the traffic woes, a number of road closures and restrictions from the weekend’s VAILO Adelaide 500 are expected to still be in place until Thursday.

Traffic restrictions on Wakefield Rd, Harvey St, East Tce and Flinders St aren’t expected to be lifted until Thursday.

The SES has responded to weather damage, flooding salvage jobs and fallen trees across Adelaide suburbs and as of 10am, SES crews have attended 222 incidents since midnight, with crews currently in attendance at 125 jobs.

The SES is warning residents not to drive or walk through flood water.

SA Power Networks has already restored power to 13,000 households.

Thunderstorms will continue in the city on Tuesday with rain expected to pick up before clearing in the afternoon.

A Bureau of Meteorology spokesman said most areas in Adelaide had seen 10 to 20mm of rain by early Tuesday morning.

But some areas had copped more. Scotch College recorded 39mm, Marion 25mm and 26mm at Adelaide Airport, he said.

Overnight and on Monday evening, large hailstones, damaging winds and heavy rainfall prompted dozens of call-outs from the State Emergency Service.

A map showing the lightning strikes across SA about 6am.

Screenshot of the Adelaide rain radar about 6am on Tuesday morning.

Screenshot of the Adelaide rain radar about 6am on Tuesday morning.

The storm swept through the state’s mid-north just after 4pm as the Bureau of Meteorology issued the alert.

Whyalla, Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Jamestown, Peterborough and Olary were caught on the path of Monday’s storm.

Adelaide details for the next six days:

Tuesday, November 28: Mostly cloudy. Showers, heavy at times. SE/SW winds Min – 12. Max – 21.

Wednesday, November 29: Mostly sunny. SW winds Min – 14. Max – 23.

Thursday, November 30: Mostly sunny. SE/SW winds Min – 13. Max – 25.

Friday, December 1: Mostly sunny. SE/SW winds Min – 13. Max – 25.

Saturday, December 2: Mostly cloudy. S’ly winds Min – 13. Max – 25.

Sunday, December 3: Mostly sunny. SE winds Min – 12. Max – 26.