A severe thunderstorm warning with possible wind gusts of up to 120km/h has been issued for areas around Adelaide, potentially creating havoc for firefighters battling to contain a massive blaze on the outskirts of the city.
The Bureau of Meteorology on Wednesday issued the top priority warning at around 1pm for the Adelaide Metropolitan area as well as the Mount Lofty Ranges where a fire has been burning out-of-control since Friday.
Up to 38 homes and four businesses have been destroyed or badly damaged by the fire which has scorched 12,500 hectares.
"Severe thunderstorms are likely to develop and produce damaging wind gusts of 90 to 120km/h in the warning area over the next several hours," the BoM notice said.
The storm could also stretch to Port Lincoln in the west and Mount Gambier in the east.
A spokesman for the bureau told AAP the severe weather team had been monitoring and assessing the situation.
"The forecast for today is for light winds over the fireground with the potential for strong gusts if a thunderstorm occurs in the area," senior meteorologist Brett Gage told AAP.
The storm could produce lightning strikes in the fire zone, and further stretch firefighting resources.
It's unlikely the thunderstorm will produce much rain on Wednesday but showers were more likely on Thursday with between 2mm and 5mm of rain forecast.
"The winds will go northwest tomorrow and then turn southwest probably around early to mid-afternoon around the fireground."
The State Emergency Service advises that people should secure or put away loose items around properties, move cars under cover or away from trees, keep clear of fallen power lines and stay indoors away from windows.
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