A cold front crossing South Australia today will produce a dangerous mix of damaging winds, rain and potentially severe thunderstorms.

The animation below shows thick cloud passing over SA on Tuesday morning, causing rain and thunderstorms to spread over central and western parts of the state. This rain and thunderstorm activity is being caused by a cold front that is sweeping over the state from west to east.

Tuesday’s wet and stormy weather will affect most of SA before contracting to the state’s south and southeast on Wednesday morning, and then clearing into the afternoon.

Thunderstorms will mainly occur over the north and northeast of SA on Tuesday, with severe storms possible in the northeast during the afternoon and early evening.

Parts of every district in SA should see about 5 to 15 mm of rain from this system, with higher isolated totals possible from the Flinders Ranges across to the Riverland and Murraylands districts.

Image: Forecast accumulated rain during the 36 hours ending at 9:30am ACST on Wednesday, September 21.

In addition to causing widespread rain and some thunderstorms, most of the state will also see blustery winds developing as the front sweeps across the state on Tuesday. The strongest winds are likely to occur over the northern interior, north of about Port Augusta, where a severe weather warning has been issued for damaging winds.

Calmer weather will return to SA from Wednesday as a high pressure ridge builds in the wake of Tuesday’s cold front. Be sure to check the latest severe weather and thunderstorm warnings for the most up-to-date information.