Batten down the hatches and drive safely: it's rough out there!

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued severe weather warnings for the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island today as well as much of the state.

At 10.40am on Friday 6 September, the BOM warned of damaging winds across central and eastern parts of SA. The affected region includes Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island in the west, much of the Mid North, metropolitan Adelaide, the Fleurieu Peninsula, Murraylands and Riverland.

Damaging winds, averaging 55-70 km/h with wind gusts in excess of 90 km/h, were forecast over coastal and elevated areas. Wind gusts in excess of 90 km/h elsewhere were also possible, mostly with showers and thunderstorms, potentially with small hailstones.

Winds of 67 km/h with gusts to 85km/ were observed at Hindmarsh Island around 10am.

The State Emergency Service advises people to:

- move vehicles undercover or away from trees;

- secure or put away loose items around their property

- stay indoors, away from windows, while conditions are severe.

Sheep graziers were warned that the cold and wet conditions, strong southwesterly winds and possible hail may result in the losses of lambs and sheep.

The wild weather was a result of a low pressure system south of Mount Gambier moving eastwards over Bass Strait during the day followed by a vigorous southwesterly airstream. At 10.40am, west to southwesterly winds were easing over Eyre Peninsula, but were forecast to increase further over the central and eastern parts of the state during the remainder of the morning before easing later this afternoon.

For up to date weather information about the Fleurieu Peninsula (which is classified by BOM as part of the Mount Lofty Ranges region) and Kangaroo Island, visit www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 210.