SA weather: Thousands without power as wild winds lash Adelaide

Thousands of people are still without power, dozens of trees have toppled and debris is strewn across roads and gardens after howling winds lashed Adelaide and most of SA overnight.

Storm damage at The Big Rocking Horse in Gumeracha. Picture: Facebook

Thousands of people are without power and debris is strewn across roads and gardens after strong winds lashed Adelaide and most of SA overnight.

Dozens of trees have also toppled, mainly in the Adelaide Hills. One of the worst hit areas was in Gumeracha, where five trees were down at The Big Rocking Horse. Fortunately, the animals at the adjoining wildlife park were all safe.

Five trees were down at The Big Rocking Horse. Picture: Facebook

Fortunately, the animals at the adjoining wildlife park were all safe. Picture: Facebook

At the peak of the weather front there were around 40 outages leaving 7000 households without power across SA. By 6am on Monday that number had dropped to 37 outages, affecting 4301 customers, mostly in the Adelaide Hills and south of Adelaide, according to SA Power Networks. By 8am that number had risen again to 44 outages, affecting 4865 customers, before dipping to 3784 customers, but still 44 outages, just before 11.30am.

SES spokesman Mike Baker said there had been about 200 call-outs, mostly for trees across roads, though there had been some reports of branches falling on homes and cars, as well as roofs blown off.

The map from SA Power Networks at just after 6am on Monday morning showing about 4000 people were without power.

A severe weather warning remains in place on Monday as a “vigorous airstream” persists over the south of the state. People in Mount Lofty Ranges, Kangaroo Island, Upper South East, Lower South East and parts of Yorke Peninsula, Mid North and Murraylands districts will be affected.

Areas that may be especially hit include Mount Gambier, Kingscote, Naracoorte, Victor Harbor, Meningie and Bordertown, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

Wind gusts of around 90 to 100 km/h are likely over the warning area early Monday morning, particularly with passing showers or thunderstorms. The risk of damaging gusts will contract to the Lower Southeast by the late morning then ease during the afternoon.

In Adelaide, it will remain windy until the late afternoon, with south-westerly winds of 25 to 40 km/h decreasing to 15 to 25 km/h, and a maximum of 17C but only a 10 per cent chance of rain after recording 7.6mm in the city overnight.

Significant gusts recorded to 5am on Monday include: 107 km/h at Cape Jaffa at 11.52pm, 105 km/h at Mt Crawford at 12.07am, and 103 km/h at Mt Gambier at 10.21pm.

The SES is urging people to move vehicles under cover or away from trees, secure or put away loose items around your property and to stay indoors, away from windows, while conditions are severe.