SA weather: SES experience one of the busiest nights this year, recording nearly 600 call-outs

Overnight on Friday, the SES were called to nearly 500 jobs, as trees fell on cars, houses, bird aviaries and carports. 50,000 people were left without power.

Wild weather across the state resulted in nearly 600 SES call-outs on Friday night and Saturday morning as trees crushed cars, structures and parts of the state experienced power blackouts.

The State Emergency Service responded to 570 call-outs from Thursday afternoon until noon on Saturday.

The majority – 483 – were received between 8pm on Friday and noon on Saturday.

SES chief of staff Derren Halleday said a number of call-outs as high as those recorded usually occurred only twice a year.

“It is a significant amount of work, but not out of reason for what we’d expect at this time of year on one of our busy weekends,” he said.

Mr Halleday said 73 per cent of the call-outs were related to fallen trees.

“The ground becomes more sodden, presumably more susceptible to (trees) falling down over these periods of time,” he said. “The risk is certainly still there in regard to trees falling down.”

Wet and windy weather on King William Street, Adelaide on Friday July 16. Picture: Michael Marschall

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Kylie Egan said strong winds were to blame for bringing trees down across the state. The highest wind gust recorded on Friday was 105km/h at Minlaton on the Yorke Peninsula. Adelaide Airport and Mount Crawford recorded 95km/h.

The Adelaide Hills received a downpour, with 82mm recorded at Lenswood and 50mm to 80mm across the Mount Lofty Ranges. The city recorded between 15mm to 30mm of rain.

In total, 52,000 homes were without power between Friday night and Saturday afternoon, SA Power Networks confirmed.

Power had been restored to a large majority of homes by 2.30pm, but as of 9pm there were still 21 outages affecting 1227 customers.

The network also reported 3580 lightning strikes on Friday night.

Strong winds brought down power lines outside the Ramsgate Hotel at Henley Beach overnight on Friday. Power to that area is not expected to be restored until Monday.

SA Power Networks spokesman Paul Roberts said some parts of the power network would have to be rebuilt due to excessive damage.

“We ... appreciate customer understanding that this is the impact of a very severe storm,” Mr Roberts said.

A severe weather warning remained in place for the eastern side of the state on Saturday and into Sunday, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning of damaging winds, squally showers, thunderstorms and potential hail.

Power lines taken out by 'mini tornado' at Ramsgate Hotel, Henley Beach. Picture: Supplied