Wild winds batter southern Australia, sparking power outages, emergency call-outs

Wild winds have swept across South Australia downing trees, damaging homes and knocking out power to thousands, as emergency services warned the worst may not be over.

Authorities are urging people to avoid unnecessary travel with another burst of damaging winds expected on Wednesday.

The Bureau of Meteorology reported gusts of up to 102 km/h at Cape Willoughby and warned that a second cold front arriving Wednesday morning could bring further destructive winds, particularly to the West Coast and Flinders Ranges.

Emergency services were called to an incident on Warren Road near Williamstown just before 11.30am on Tuesday, where a large gum tree had fallen directly onto a ute that was travelling along the road, trapping the driver and a dog inside.

Police said members of the public using a grader and chainsaws assisted emergency crews to remove the tree from the crushed vehicle.

“The driver was taken to hospital by ambulance in a serious condition,” SA Police said.

“The dog appears to have escaped injury and is being cared for.”

The road was cleared and police have thanked the local volunteers and community members for their assistance.

By 8.30am, the SES had responded to 55 wind-related incidents across Adelaide, the Yorke and Fleurieu peninsulas, including fallen trees, roof damage, and other structure damage.

SA Power Networks reported 21 outages affecting more than 5000 customers early on Tuesday morning, with impacted areas including Macclesfield, Salisbury and One Tree Hill.

By 4pm, that number had been reduced to six outages, affecting just under 1000 properties.

“What a wild and windy start to the day,” SA Power Networks said in a statement.

“Strong winds have caused damage due to vegetation coming into contact with powerlines.”

SA Power Networks urged residents to stay well away from any downed lines and assume they are live.

Although Tuesday’s cold front has moved east into Victoria and NSW, damaging winds are likely to redevelop early Wednesday, especially across the West Coast.

Gusts of up to 90 km/h are expected again in elevated areas, with winds likely to ease late Wednesday evening.

Rain will also intensify on Wednesday, with up to 25mm forecast for Adelaide.

Victoria was also hit by damaging winds on Tuesday, with BOM issuing severe weather

warnings for parts of the state, including the Grampians, Central Ranges, and parts of the Mornington Peninsula.

Ballarat and the ski fields were hit with damaging winds up to 100 km/h and blizzard conditions.

The SES has issued a public warning urging people to secure loose items around their properties, move cars under cover and stay indoors in severe weather.

Melbourne and Canberra will see cool highs about 12 degrees through the week, with showers and windy conditions early on and possible frost.

Sydney’s highs are forecast to range from 17 to 20 degrees, staying mostly dry and partly cloudy.

Perth’s temperatures are expected to stay mild, ranging between 17 and 20 degrees with showers early in the week clearing to sunshine.

Brisbane is set to remain sunny with a high of 25 on Wednesday.

Darwin is forecast a hot and sunny week with highs around 30 degrees, while Hobart and Adelaide will experience cooler conditions, with highs of 11 and occasional showers.