Weather set to turn wild as strong winds and rain push across SA
As parts of South Australia undergo their first burst of wet and windy weather in months, Kangaroo Island ferry services have been cancelled because of the rough conditions.
The Bureau of Meterology (BOM) has warnings in place for much of SA, while the State Emergency Service (SES) has advised of the increased risk of downed powerlines and fallen trees after months of drought.
"We've got some distressed trees out there that are lacking moisture and they're more susceptible to those strong winds," the service's Ian Bonython told ABC Radio Adelaide.
A severe weather warning for "damaging, locally destructive winds" has been issued for much of the state including Eyre and Yorke Peninsulas, the Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide metropolitan area, Flinders, Mid North, Kangaroo Island, Murraylands, Riverland and south-east.
There are also gale and strong wind warnings — and a coastal hazard warning for abnormally high tides — for stretches of the state's coastline.
Kangaroo Island ferry operator SeaLink said its early morning services from Cape Jervis and Penneshaw had been cancelled.
"Unfortunately, due to weather conditions matching the current forecasts and with increasing winds and high swells predicted throughout the day, all sailings for today, 26 May will not be operating," the company posted on Facebook.
"Conditions and forecasts for tomorrow, Tuesday 27 May, will be monitored throughout the day."
BOM senior forecaster Simon Timcke said between six and 20 millimetres of rain were expected over Adelaide, and between 20 and 40 millimetres in the hills.
"[We're expecting] certainly the wettest day we've seen for a while."
Mr Timcke said while the system had "taken a little bit longer" to arrive "than we originally thought", the conditions were being caused by a low pressure system south of the state.
"There's a couple of pretty vigorous fronts extending from that low," he said.
"It looked like we'd probably start to see the showers very late Sunday evening or through the early hours of Monday morning but it has been a little bit slower to reach the Adelaide area."
The SES said it had responded to several jobs since midnight, all of them fallen trees.
"I'm sure people have seen on TV news footage and YouTube and those types of things, where trampolines have just been flying through the air, so ensure that all those loose items are secure in your yard," Mr Bonython said.
"Please stay away from those fallen powerlines and be prepared for power outages."
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