Tens of thousands without power in Adelaide after severe storms lash east coast

Nearly 80,000 Australians in one state could be without power until Monday after wild storms brought 420,000 lightning strikes in one day.

South Australia’s power provider is racing to reconnect some 80,000 customers after the state was lashed by heavy rain, wild wind and thunderstorms.

More than 420,000 lightning strikes and winds of up to 106km/h were recorded across the state on Saturday.

SA Power Networks graph showing the lightning strikes across the state on Saturday.

SA State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers were responding to over 360 incidents since yesterday, including fallen trees throughout the Adelaide Hills and flooding.

The heaviest rainfall was recorded at Port Lincoln, which received more than 55mm.

But there are warnings some of residents won't have their supply restored until Monday.

SA Power Networks’ Paul Roberts told the Advertiser the damage was “extensive” and likely to be the most widespread blackout since February 2017.

“We’ve called in additional crews and they’ll work through the night, but the reality is they’ll be working for another 24 to 48 hours to repair the damage,” he said.

We were expecting storms in Adelaide today but not a mini cyclone!!! This is outside our place in Warradale when the big front hit..!! @theTiser@7NewsAdelaide@9NewsAdel@abcadelaide#storm#adelaide#wildweather#springtime#storms#winds#windywarradalepic.twitter.com/BOYbhHeDNR

— Dr Anna Petts (Regolith Geoscience) (@anna_chica) November 12, 2022

The Glenelg tram line remained closed between South Terrace and Glenelg on Sunday as crews worked to repair “technical issues” caused by a tree falling on power lines.

Fallen power lines has also closed Lower Portrush Rd in both directions, SA Infrastructure and Transport confirmed.

The Bureau of Meteorology expects the thunderstorms to continue into Sunday.

On Saturday, the wild weather suspended the AFLW Adelaide Collingwood semi-final twice.