Severe thunderstorm warning upgraded for Adelaide with large hailstones and damaging winds

Tweet

Adelaide residents are being urged to take shelter as a severe thunderstorm carrying the threat of large hailstones and damaging winds moves across Gulf St Vincent towards the city tonight.

The SES has issued the following warning: A Very Dangerous Thunderstorm likely to produce large, possibly giant hailstones was detected near Macclesfield. This thunderstorm is moving towards the southeast. It is forecast to affect Strathalbyn by 8:40 pm.

3 cm hailstones were reported at Happy Valley around 7:45 pm.

At 7pm, the Bureau detected a severe thunderstorm near Black Point on Yorke Peninsula, moving towards the southeast across Gulf St Vincent.

The latest warning follows a broader severe weather alert issued earlier this afternoon, when thunderstorms began moving across South Australia ahead of a cold front.

A powerful wind gust of 98km/h was recorded at Woomera Airport at 12:18pm, demonstrating the strength of the weather system affecting the state.

The Bureau previously advised that a trough moving eastwards across South Australia, combined with strong upper-level winds and moist, unstable atmospheric conditions, was creating an environment favourable for severe thunderstorms.

A more general severe thunderstorm warning also remains current for Adelaide Metropolitan, Mount Lofty Ranges, Yorke Peninsula, Mid North and parts of the Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Flinders, Murraylands, Upper South East and North West Pastoral districts.

The State Emergency Service is advising residents to take immediate precautions, including securing or putting away loose items around their properties, moving cars away from trees or under cover, and staying well clear of fallen power lines.

People are also urged to stay indoors and away from windows while thunderstorms are nearby.

With the storm forecast to reach Adelaide’s coastal suburbs and city centre by 8pm, residents should continue monitoring the latest advice as conditions develop.