Flash floods, gale force winds lash South Australia, Victoria

TORRENTIAL rain, flash floods and gale-force winds have wreaked havoc across the country — and it’s definitely not over yet.

TORRENTIAL rain, flash floods and gale-force winds have wreaked havoc across the country’s southeast overnight — and it’s not over yet.

Thousands of South Australians remained without power following last night’s wild weather while floodwaters covered Semaphore Beach in Adelaide as big waves pummelled the jetty.

Sandra Storey braves the weather at Glenelg North foreshore. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

At Glenelg, water came right up the beach wall and on to the jetty and the Port River broke its banks, with the Birkenhead Bridge earlier closed to all traffic because of the flooding, The Advertiser reported.

Police have urged people stay out of the water and said all metro jetties were closed to the public until engineers can inspect them for damage.

Drivers attempt to remove a large branch that had just fallen near Upper Sturt, Adelaide, blocking traffic. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Wind gusts that peaked at 102km/h at Murray Bridge wreaked havoc across large parts of the state yesterday, felling trees, damaging homes and powering a king tide that flooded coastal areas.

Conditions are expected to ease this afternoon but winds up to 50km/h and further showers are forecast in Adelaide today.

While the weather hit homeowners and commuters hard, farmers are smiling with many regional areas copping a drenching.

The State Emergency Service received more than 600 calls for help, Sunrise reported.

The cool change wasn’t just limited to South Australia.

Torrential rain flooded the esplanade in St Kilda. Picture: Richard Serong

Victorians were also subjected to flash flooding and heavy rains as strong winds continue to hit Melbourne and surrounding regions.

Rain hit much of the state with Stawell in the west receiving 55mm, while Hunters Hill near Wodonga copped 80mm, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Torrential rain flooded and caught a taxi driver unaware in York Street, South Melbourne. Picture: Richard Serong

As more damaging winds are forecast for the state’s Alpine areas, the State Emergency Service received more than 100 calls for help overnight, Nine News reported.

Damaging winds tear trail of destruction across Victoria, SES receive 104 calls for help overnight. #9News pic.twitter.com/Pa8Ffx49Wo

— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) May 9, 2016

Damaging winds reaching up to 100km/h are set to hit Victoria today, the Herald Sun reported.

A severe weather warning has been issued with winds to push across the state from the west this morning and should hit the city at 10am, worsening throughout the afternoon, before hitting South and East Gippsland later today.

Fifty to 60km/h an hour winds — peaking at 100km/h, are forecast for coastal and elevated parts of the Central, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland districts.

Mount Hotham has already recorded a gust of 122km an hour and at Wilsons Promontory 107km an hour in the early hours of this morning.

The severe weather, which has seen an abrupt end to our warm autumn, is the result of a deep low pressure system centred off the South Australian coast.

Further rains are predicted today for Melbourne and surrounds with the chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and winds reaching up to 55km/hr in coastal areas.

Gilbert Walden saves Katie Skelly from the water in Elizabeth Street yesterday. Picture: Mike Keating.