More thunderstorms due for SA as 66,000 lightning strikes light up the sky, giant hailstones fall
Giant hailstones pummelled parts of SA and thousands of properties lost power as the skies were lit up by about 66,000 lightning strikes overnight. Send your pics.
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South Australians have been treated to a spectacular lightning show with more than 60,000 strikes as thunderstorms and monster hailstones hit parts of the state.
Some areas are still feeling the effects, with about 1200 power outages in Chandlers Hill, Cherry Gardens, Clarendon, Coromandel East, Coromandel Valley, Ironbank and Onkaparinga Hills.
Since 3pm on Thursday about 9,000 properties were impacted by power outages with more than 2,000 affected at the storm’s peak.
During the storm there were 66,000 lightning strikes, with about 33,000 over land, and
dozens of call-outs to the SES, for fallen trees and storm damage.
Many areas also copped a drenching, with Adelaide Airport receiving about 20mm rain since 9am on Thursday, while 30mm fell at Mt Lofty, Belair had 27mm, and Burnside 23mm.
A clean-up is underway after a monster hailstorm slammed the Eyre Peninsula. Locals huddled for cover as frozen ice grenades fell from the sky damaging property and leaving one resident bloodied and bruised. @haydennelson#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/CdvljsNrxB
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) August 16, 2024
On other Eyre Peninsula, a clean-up is under way after a monster hailstorm hit. Locals huddled for cover as hailstones – some the size of golf balls – fell from the sky, damaging property and leaving one resident in Arno bloodied and bruised.
And it’s not over yet. Friday will see a high chance of more showers with up to 15mm of the wet stuff in the city, and the chance of a thunderstorm about the hills and southern suburbs in the morning and early afternoon.
It’s expected to reach 16C in Adelaide, with winds tipped to be north-westerly 25 to 40 km/h turning westerly in the middle of the day.
The storm rolled in on Thursday evening after the Bureau of Meteorology forecasted thunderstorms for Adelaide and issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the state.
Those on the Eastern Eyre Peninsula as well as parts of West Coast, Yorke Peninsula, Lower Eyre Peninsula and North West Pastoral districts also were faced with damaging winds and large hailstones.
“A trough combined with a moist and unstable atmosphere has triggered thunderstorms in the west this evening,” the bureau said on Thursday.
“Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds and large hailstones in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Whyalla, Wudinna, Cleve, Kimba and Warooka.”
Sheep graziers in the Mount Lofty Ranges have also been warned that cold temperatures, rain and showers and north-westerly winds are expected on Friday.
“There is a risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions,” the bureau said.
A reprieve from the rain may come on Sunday before a wet week ahead, with the bureau forecasting showers for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
South Australians have taken to social media to share their weather shots, many also urging pet owners to ensure their furry friends are safe and secure.
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