Australia Weather News

Men fill sandbags with the CFS at Burnside ahead of the forecast wild weather. - ABC

Adelaide residents are preparing for heavy rain, high seas and strongwinds forecast to hit later this week, in what the SES says could be one of the most significant weather events it has seen in South Australia.

Up to 100 millimetres of rain is expected to fall over the Mount Lofty Ranges on Wednesday and Thursday.

Storm-force winds averaging a potential 48 to 63 knots, which is just one category down from hurricane-force winds, have also been forecast over central and Spencer Gulf waters.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) warned swells of more than eight metres could hit the state's South Central, Central, and Upper and Lower West Coast.

Senior forecaster Tina Donaldson said swells were expected to reach 11 metres off the Lower West and Central Coasts are expected to reach 11 metres, and up to 10 metres in the Far West.

"On Thursday we've got this front moving through and this intense low pressure system developing," she said.

"So it looks like that's going to generate quite a large south-westerly swell behind that."

It said there was potential for gale-force winds over exposed coastal and elevated areas across the state, including the Mount Lofty and Flinders ranges.

In an updated flood watch, the bureau said there was a risk of rapidly rising water levels and flooding in creeks and rivers across the Mid North, Adelaide and in particular the Mount Lofty Ranges on Wednesday afternoon.

SES volunteer Amie Gibard said about six tonnes of sand had been delivered to the Burnside station in Adelaideon Monday and close to a dozen people had already collected bags.

"This is a really good initiative, having sandbags distributed because it allows people to prevent water coming into their homes," she said.

Waterfall Gully resident Tom Cawley was one of those who collected sandbags on Monday night.

He said he was not too badly affected by the most recent floods, but wanted to be prepared early just in case.

"We'll watch the weather ... the house has been through a flood a couple of times, without much damage," he said.

"The garden will probably go under and the garden will get re-topsoiled so it's not too bad for us. It is worse for others though."

Sandbag preparations underway

Just two weeks ago, some homes across the Greater Adelaide area were flooded by burst rivers and creeks.

The SES said residents could also prepare by moving valuable possessions to a higher place, making sure windows were sealed and gutters were cleared.

It said sandbags were available between 6:00pm and 9:00pm from SES units at Noarlunga, Edinburgh and Strathalbyn, as well as at the Burnside and Bridgewater CFS stations.

Sandbags will also be available from the SES atPort Lincoln, Clare, Burra, Kapunda, Saddleworth, Port Pirie, Berri, Barmera, Loxton, Renmark and Mount Gambier.

The Mount Lofty and Wittunga botanic gardens will be closed on Wednesday due to the forecast extreme conditions.

The Oz Asia Festival hub at Elder Park in Adelaide said it would close on Wednesday due to the severe weather.

A 6:00pm performance by Cambodia's Phare Circus in the Ukiyo tent has been rescheduled for Friday at 8:30pm.

Oz Asia said patrons could exchange their tickets or get a full refund.

ABC