The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning as thunderstorms head toward Adelaide in South Australia.

As of 1 p.m., the bureau advised people living in the Adelaide metropolitan area, Mount Lofty Ranges, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Flinders, Mid North, North West Pastoral and parts of the West Coast, Murraylands and North East Pastoral districts to relocate to safer and higher places.

"A vigorous front over Eastern Eyre Peninsula will move eastwards across central and eastern SA today, accompanied by squally northerly winds and thunderstorms," the bureau said.

The severe thunderstorms carry wind gusts of up to 100km/h and are likely to develop later this afternoon.

"Strong and squally northerly winds may be briefly gale force with gusts around 90-100km/h over the next several hours ahead of the front and localised damage is possible."

"Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon. Some of these are likely to be severe with damaging wind gusts and very heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding. There is also a risk of large hailstones north of about Whyalla."

The State Emergency Service (SES) advised residents to secure or put away loose items around their respective properties as well as transfer cars under cover or away from trees.

"Furthermore significant thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon," the SES said.

"Some of these are likely to be severe with damaging wind gusts and very heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding."