Sunshine for now but more storms forecast as 300 remain without power

Power has now been restored to most of SA with just 300 customers still affected by last Saturday’s storm – but there are fears the weekend forecast could cause a repeat of issues.

SA Power Networks are on the home stretch in the race to restore power to South Australian residents with just 300 customers still affected by last Saturday’s storm.

Crews are working tirelessly in Upper Sturt to restore the last of the affected customers, but SA Power Networks head of corporate affairs Paul Roberts said works will continue into the weekend.

“We’ve already completed two days in Upper Sturt to restore the high voltage network, now we have to do the ancillary work in the streets that run off Upper Sturt Rd. We have to check everything off before we re-energise that low voltage network, which will likely not be until over the weekend.”

He said the “rebuild of the network” had been a massive job.

“It’s been a massive effort by our crews so far, particularly in that stretch from Aldgate down to Blackwood,” he said.

Work being carried out on powerlines in Aldgate after the recent storm. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

“We’ve had 500 downed powerlines.”

With severe storms possible on Saturday, Mr Roberts said they are doing their best to prepare resources.

“We’ve been monitoring the forecast, but the reality is that we won’t know the severity of any storm until it hits. No one was expecting the intesity of the storm on Saturday,” he said.

“It’s been challenging, but we’re allocating our resources accordingly taking a fatigue management approach to ensure everyone gets a rest.”

Telstra services have also been restored to areas in the state’s north that previously prevented communities from contacting triple-0 (000).

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a very high chance of showers and a possible thunderstorm in the metropolitan area on Saturday afternoon.

The conditions are expected to extend into the regions, including up to Port Augusta and moving down towards Mount Gambier as far east as Renmark.

Bureau of Meteorology metrologist Tom Boeck said by Friday, a cloud band is expected to be moving across the state from the west.

“There’s not a great deal in that for Adelaide, but there’s a possibility for an afternoon shower,” Mr Boeck said.

Mr Boeck forecast 10mm to 20mm of rain on Saturday with a drop to 2mm to 8mm on Sunday.

A tree fell on a fence at Blackwood Kindergarten during the storm. Picture: Nathan Davies