Wild weather sweeps across South Australia

MORE than 13,000 properties are without power as a blast of wild weather sweeps across South Australia.

Storm warning: Rain-heavy clouds move out of the Murray-Sunset National Park at Nowingi. Picture: Glenn Milne.

MORE than 13,000 properties are without power and the State Emergency Service has taken more than 100 calls for help as a blast of wild weather sweeps across South Australia.

Winds gusts have hit more than 100km/h in some areas and a severe weather warning for coastal regions has been issued for today.

The wild weather is the result of a vigorous cold front moving across South Australia after temperatures yesterday climbed to the high 20Cs across the state, sparking five bushfires.

The weather bureau says an area from Eyre Peninsula to Mt Gambier in the state’s southeast could be hit by severe conditions.

Neptune Island has recorded the strongest winds so far with 109km/h while gusts also topped 100km/h at Minlaton.

Some rain has been forecast but falls are only expected to reach about 6mm with maximum temperatures in most areas falling below 20C.

SA Power Networks said widespread disruptions were being investigated across metropolitan Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills, with properties around Ferryden Park, Woodville and at Christies Beach and Lonsdale in the city’s south without power.

There were reports of trees down in some areas causing disruptions for traffic.

Fire crews were also dealing with a smouldering rubbish fire at a recycling depot in Adelaide’s western suburbs.