Adelaide's north has been hit by a mini tornado causing flooding and damage to homes and roads — and a severe weather warning for damaging winds and more heavy rain remains in place for most of the state.
The State Emergency Service (SES) has had more than 200 call-outs for assistance since midnight, with most involving fallen trees, flooded homes and roads, and fallen powerlines.
State duty officer Robert Charlton said most of the calls had been for the northern suburbs, especially the Salisbury area.
He said the mini tornado struck Salisbury and surrounding suburbs at about 5am.
"We've seen some flooding, certainly water across roads, but also quite significant damage," he said.
"We've had reports of trees that have been snapped off, we've had reports of air conditioners coming down, powerlines down — so certainly quite a bit of damage from rain and some strong winds."
The SES is warning that there is a delay in attending call-outs due to the large number of requests.
SA Power Networks said more than 1,800 customers in the northern suburbs were without power.
It hopes power will be restored by 5pm.
Salisbury East resident Joy Pearce said she was woken by the noise of a violent storm at about 5am.
"It sounded like a tornado. I've never heard anything like it," she said.
"Our neighbour had their front verandah completely blown off and they've got debris on the roof."
Warren, who called in to ABC Radio Adelaide, said the sound was quite frightening, and he and his wife hid in the bathroom as the storm passed over Salisbury East.
"I got woken up by what sounded like a freight train, coming towards the house and it just got louder and louder, and then all of a sudden it just hit," he said.
"The whole house shook, tiles are ripped off, my air conditioner got blown into the backyard.
"Me and the missus went into the bathroom, we were that scared."
Tina Donaldson from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said the heaviest rain fell over Adelaide's north at about 4am.
She said Parafield has had about 55 millimetres, with 15mm of that falling between 4am and 5am.
"We've had some heavier showers fall across the northern suburbs, Golden Grove picking up almost 30mm in an hour there from that more intense shower that has moved through," she said.
"The severe weather warning covering most of the state has been updated to now include heavy rainfall as well as damaging winds.
"So a warning currently out for damaging winds with gusts in excess of 90kph are possible, easing later today, but also heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding has also been added.
"That includes parts of the Adelaide metropolitan and into the Mount Lofty Ranges this morning, easing later this afternoon."
The BOM said Adelaide has had between 30mm and 70mm of rain in the 24-hour period up until 9am.
Hermitage had 72mm, Golden Grove 60mm, while in the city there was 35mm of rain.
Police said parts of Main North Road in the northern suburbs were closed due to flooding and large fallen trees.
Senior Constable Gen Cullinan urged people not to drive through floodwaters. A number of vehicles have already become stuck.
"We are receiving reports of motorists trying to drive through floodwaters, and several vehicles have broken down and have got stuck, which makes it increasingly difficult for the emergency services to try and get to the people that need us," she said.
