Perth Weather: Severe thunderstorms trigger heavy rain, icy chill and hail

Severe thunderstorms have triggered heavy rain and destructive winds across the southern half of the state, also delivering an icy chill during the final days of autumn… So there’s likely to be some hail around too.

Article by Lee Steele.

There have been widespread falls and damaging winds all the way from Rottnest Island to the Perth Hills, Lancelin down to the south coast and inland through the Wheatbelt and Great Southern.

Winds at Rottnest reached 111km/hr early this morning, while gusts of 100km/hr were felt in Swanbourne and Ocean Reef.

It’s also been a cold and gusty morning in the city, with winds of 80km/hr at around 8.30am.

The storms have also given rainfall totals a much needed boost after a lengthy dry spell – in the 24 hours at 9am, Perth had recorded 26mm – the highest total in nine months.

Outside the city, Kalamunda had 35mm, Jandakot 30mm and Swanbourne and Rottnest both recorded 17mm.

But the rain was much heavier further south.

“Showers and thunderstorms have brought rainfall through large parts of the South West Land Division, southwest of a line from Geraldton to Esperance,” BOM Meteorologist Jessica Lingard said.

“The highest falls were in Bunbury with 72.6mm, Brookdale Siding with 52.2mm and Dardanup East with 50.6mm.”

Other farming areas picked up some decent falls too, with more than 20mm of rain in the Central Wheatbelt and almost 15mm in the Great Southern.

Multiple weather warnings remain in place today, including a warning for damaging winds down the west and south coasts, including Perth, Mandurah, Bunbury, Margaret River, Albany and Esperance.

“This is the first significant front of the season,” Ms Lingard said.

“As the front continues to move eastwards, a low pressure system to the south of the State and a ridge through the Gascoyne are providing an increased pressure gradient, driving strong winds onto the west and southwest coastlines.”

The wet, windy and chilly conditions will slowly ease over the next couple of days.

Then we have another strong cold front – just in time for the weekend! And it may bring even higher rainfall totals, of up to 40mm in the city.

Another deluge of rain to officially launch us into winter!

Lee Steele is a journalist for Channel 10, reporting on news, weather and what’s on around Perth and WA.