Wet weather: Massive tree falls on powerlines and chaos on the Southern Expressway

Wet weather has caused wild scenes across Adelaide, with a huge tree falling outside an east Adelaide primary school after a 15-car pileup on the Southern Expressway.

A tree that came down on Second Ave at St Peters around midday on Monday created quite the sight for students at East Adelaide School.

The massive tree brought down power lines out the front of the school and has cut power to about 60 homes and businesses in the area.

Students lined up along the fence to watch emergency services in action.

It came after a foggy and slippery conditions caused a multi-car pileup on the Southern Expressway, leading to caused major delays on Monday morning.

SES workers survey the fallen tree, which brought down powerline in St Peters, in front of East Adelaide School. Picture: Matt Loxton

School kids line up at East Adelaide Primary after the tree fell. Picture: Matt Loxton

Just before 7am, emergency services were called to the busy expressway at O’Halloran Hill after reports of a crash involving several cars, as a “pea-souper” descended on parts of Adelaide including the Hills.

Police said 15 cars were involved in the crash, which occurred in the city-bound lanes, and was one of several bingles likely caused by the wet weather and poor visibility.

Six people were issued expiation notices for failing to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front.

Police said one person had been taken to Flinders Medical Centre with minor injuries, and the expressway remained open, with traffic interruptions now “minimal if at all”.

The crashes came after wet weather also caused chaos on South Australian roads on Sunday, with three vehicles coming unstuck in the slippery conditions.

A female driver was taken to Flinders Medical Centre after the ute she was driving came off the road at Strathalbyn

Another flipped on to its roof at Millbrook in the Adelaide Hills with the female driver lucky to walk away uninjured.

The huge car pileup on Southern Expressway has caused traffic delays near Majors Road, O’Halloran Hill. Picture: Dean Martin

Foggy conditions on the Southern Expressway made driving hazardous in Monday morning. Picture: Dean Martin

A man in his 20s lost control of his vehicle and ending up in a ditch at Highland Valley, south of Mount Barker.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Vince Rowlands said more showers were forecast but the “majority” of the predicted rainfall had passed.

“We still have those showers forecast in the next few days,” Mr Rowlands said.

“It’s a bit hit and miss.”

Mr Rowlands said the rainfall would be “on and off” through to the weekend.

Overnight, 14mm was recorded at Adelaide Airport, while 15mm fell at Sutton Creek near Mount Lofty.

Last week, Adelaide was lashed by wild weather, leaving tens of thousands of homes without power.