Warning for SA coastline as abnormally high tide lashes beaches and jetties

Damaging winds will ease overnight across South Australia but a warning remains in place for “abnormally high tides” along much of the state’s coastline. The Bureau of Meteorology said the “strong cold front” which lashed the state throughout Monday has moved south and over the border to Victoria and conditions would gradually ease in SA. According to a warning issued late on Monday, “abnormally high tides” were likely to lead to sea water flooding at low lying coastal areas in the Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent on Monday. It said the tides were likely to rise “significantly above the normal high tide mark” during the afternoon and evening. The sea level was expected to reach 3.9 metres above the lowest astronomical tide, while at Port Pirie it was expected to rise to 4.6 metres. “Large surf in combination with the elevated sea levels may also lead to coastal erosion and localised damage to coastal infrastructure, including about the Adelaide metropolitan beaches,” the warning says.

“Beach conditions in these areas could be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf exposed areas.”

The bureau said the locations expected to be affected include Port Adelaide, Adelaide metropolitan beaches, Port Pirie, Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Augusta, Wallaroo, Victor Harbor and Port Wakefield. Footage has also emerged on social media of waves crashing across jetties along and a structure at Marion Bay on the Yorke Peninsula being swept away in swell. The bureau said winds from the west and south-west could average up to 65 kilometres per hour with possible peak gusts of 90 kph into Tuesday morning. The highest gust on Monday was 126 kph recorded at Neptune Island at 5.22am, while on the mainland a gust of 107 kph was recorded at Minlaton Airport at 1.05pm. Other places which recorded gusts of 90 kph and above include Port Pirie, Cultana, Cummins and Cape Borda.

She said the expected sea level peaks were similar heights to an event in May 2016 which caused damage along the coastline. “With these severe winds, we are also expecting large waves of 6m-9m this afternoon about exposed coasts, and these will abate during Tuesday,” she said. In May 2016 historic jetties, including the heritage-listed Port Germain jetty on the Spencer Gulf, were damaged during severe weather. Other jetties damaged at the time included Moonta Bay, Henley Beach, Venus Bay, Port Rickaby and Elliston.