Saturday 21 May 2016

Extreme weather in Perth, Western Australa

Torrential rain, winds up to 109kph and monster waves hit Western Australia, leaving 60,000 homes without power as east coast basks in sunshine
  • Australian west coast is forced to bunker down as storms lash Perth
  • Heavy rain, 110km/h winds and massive ocean swells have been recorded
  • 60,000 homes are without power and SES has received dozens of calls 
  • Meanwhile, east coast capital cities continue to bathe in sunshine  
  • Second storm of similar severity is expected to hit west coast on Tuesday 

21 May, 2016

Australia's west coast has been forced to bunker down as heavy rain, 110km/h winds and massive ocean swells lash the south-west corner of the country while Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane continue to bathe in sunshine.

About 60,000 homes in Perth and the south-west region are without power and the SES had received 70 calls for assistance this morning as fallen trees and wind caused damage across the city.

The strongest cold front of the year arrived at the southern half of Western Australia about midnight, bringing with it severe wind gusts and torrential rain. 
Cape Leeuwin, south of Perth was the first to record strong wind gusts up to 94km/h at 1:50am, followed by 109 km/h at Rottnest Island, at 5:30am and seaside suburbs of Perth experiencing 109 km/h winds at 7am.

Amid concerns for potential flash flooding, heavy rain was also recorded overnight with towns south of Perth, Witchcliffe and Bridgetown receiving 56mm and 52mm respectively.

Australia's west coast has been forced to bunker down as heavy rain, 110km/h winds and massive ocean swells lash the south-west corner of the country

The strongest cold front of the year arrived at the southern half of Western Australia about midnight, bringing with it severe wind gusts and torrential rain


Authorities issued a warning for the region and urged people to steer clear of any water bodies and take shelter within homes - away from trees, power lines, storm water drains and streams

Saturday sports matches were put on notice and people were advised to contact their sports clubs for advice on whether games would go head

The monster storm was preceded with abnormally high tide earlier this week, with surfers riding waves of up to seven metres high.

The The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has issued a warning for the region and urged people to steer clear of any water bodies and take shelter within homes - away from trees, power lines, storm water drains and streams.

Saturday sports matches were put on notice and people were advised to contact their sports clubs for advice on whether games would go head.

'Post-frontal conditions will come through this afternoon, which include thunderstorms, chance of small hail and severe gusts continuing,' Bureau of Meterology forecaster Meaghan Johnston said.

The extreme Western Australia weather pattern shows no sign of letting up with a second storm expected to blast the coast again on Tuesday, with waves again expected to reach in excess of six meters.

'We experience winds like this about five times a year in Perth,' Ms Johnston said.
'We do have another system expected on the Tuesday, from what we can see it is quite similar.'

Weather maps show the massive storm front battering Australia's west coast, while the east coast remains mostly sunny


Amid concerns for potential flash flooding, heavy rain was also recorded overnight with towns south of Perth, Witchcliffe and Bridgetown receiving 56mm and 52mm respectively

Surfers are taking advantage of the swell the storm has brought along the coast, ignoring warnings from authorities about the dangerous conditions.

Surf Life Saving WA warned residents of the 'dangerous conditions on our coast this weekend' in a tweet on Friday.

Perth maximum temperatures are expected to remain between 18 and 20 degrees for the next seven days.



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