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Severe storm front lashes Perth, South West with wide-spread damaging winds

Caitlyn Rintoul and Cally DupeThe West Australian
Camera IconCredit: Caitlyn Rintoul/The West Australian, Caitlyn Rintoul

WA has already seen wind gusts above 125km/h, as a severe storm front has lashed the State into the evening.

Labelled a “once or twice a year event” the storm, the severe weather hit the lower South West about 2pm before extending up to the Perth metro about 6pm.

Cape Naturaliste in the South West has recorded the strongest gusts so far at 126km/h just before 7:30pm.

Perth’s wild weather. Tree down on Canning Highway.
Camera IconPerth’s wild weather. Tree down on Canning Highway. Credit: The West Australian

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Around the metro, Rottnest Island recorded the strongest gusts at 113km/h, followed by 102km/h in Mandurah and 96km/h at Ocean Reef.

The Bureau of Meteorology has tipped the peak of the strong winds to sweep the city around midnight and 10-20mm is expected for the gauge overnight.

The severe weather warning extends from Jurien Bay in the north to Bremer Bay in the south.

Country WA also copped a hit across the past couple of days, with West River farmers Mark and Elaine Mudie happily tipping out between 5mm and 27mm at their property on Monday morning, adding to 15mm last month.

Mr Mudie said the rain was a welcome boost as they approach the halfway point of their seeding program.

Hail during Perth’s wild weather. Mark Mudie at West River.
Camera IconHail during Perth’s wild weather. Mark Mudie at West River. Credit: Mark Mudie

“We are very happy... it means we are seeding into moisture on those properties that got good rain... and that moisture should be linked up with what was lower down,” Mr Mudie said.

“It is a positive start, and definitely a bit different to last year when it was very dry.”

State Emergency Service crews were kept busy across the city, particularly in coastal areas, with more than 110 call outs between 9am and 8.30pm on Tuesday.

In Como a large tree fell over two lanes of the Canning Highway just before the on-ramp to the Kwinana Freeway about 5.40pm.

A WA Police spokesman said officers were called out across the city into the evening to assist with traffic control near fallen power lines and trees.

Along Rockingham Beach about 9.20pm, police were called to assist with a vessel that had been pushed to land in the strong swell.

Officers helped two people, who were onboard at the time, get from their boat to the shore by lighting up the bay with their headlines.

Showers, hail and dangerous surf conditions - with swell peaking at six metres - is expected to continue into Wednesday morning.

Despite wind chill dropping temperatures in Perth overnight, Tuesday’s maximum reached 23C in the early afternoon before it dipped down to 17C by 7pm.

Storm damage to a Port Kennedy home on Tuesday evening.
Camera IconStorm damage to a Port Kennedy home on Tuesday evening. Credit: Snapchat

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