South Australians are being urged to prepare for a significant burst of damaging winds, with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing a Severe Weather Warning covering Adelaide and large parts of the state from Monday morning.
The warning, issued at 10:16am on Sunday, forecasts a strong cold front followed by a deep low-pressure system that will bring widespread damaging wind conditions across South Australia through Monday and into Tuesday.
The warning area includes the Adelaide Metropolitan district, Mount Lofty Ranges, West Coast, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, Flinders, Mid North, Kangaroo Island, Upper South East, Lower South East and parts of the Murraylands, North West Pastoral, North East Pastoral and Riverland districts.
According to the Bureau, isolated damaging wind gusts will begin developing as the cold front sweeps across the state during Monday. Conditions are expected to intensify later in the day as a deep low-pressure system tracks south of Adelaide.
Wind gusts of up to 90km/h are possible across western and central parts of South Australia from late Monday morning, with Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges expected to be affected from early Monday afternoon.
The strongest conditions are forecast during Monday afternoon and evening, when winds averaging 60 to 70km/h with gusts reaching 100km/h are expected across the West Coast, Eyre Peninsula and Yorke Peninsula before extending across the remainder of the warning area, including Adelaide and the South East.
The Bureau says damaging winds are expected to ease across coastal and low-lying areas, including Adelaide, during Tuesday morning. Conditions should then gradually improve across the Flinders Ranges and Mount Lofty Ranges through Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Locations that may be affected include Adelaide, Port Lincoln, Strathalbyn, Maitland, Whyalla, Mount Gambier, Ceduna and Port Augusta.
The South Australian State Emergency Service is urging residents to take precautions ahead of the weather system. The SES is advising people to secure or put away loose items around their property, including outdoor furniture and trampolines, to reduce the risk of damage from strong winds.
Residents are also encouraged to move vehicles under cover or away from trees and remain indoors and away from windows while severe conditions are occurring.
The warning comes as South Australia prepares for a period of unsettled weather to begin the new week, with authorities encouraging people to stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings as conditions evolve.
