Perilous
Times
Australia: Thunderstorms, destructive wild winds cause much
damage across Perth
* From: PerthNow
* July 28, 2011 10:41AM
A COLD front packing winds of up to 125km/h tore roofs from homes,
flattened fences and broke windows across Perth - with more bad
weather to come.
At 7am (WST) FESA reported that its volunteers had received more
than 43 calls for help from areas as far apart Girrawheen and
Waroona, including a block of units in Harrison Street,
Rockingham, that lost its roof.
The majority of calls were related to water coming in to houses,
roof damage and flash flooding.
In Waroona, 112km south of Perth, winds gusting up to 126km/h
ripped roofs of two houses and knocked down fences, trees and
power lines. The worst hit locations were McClarty Street and
South Western Highway, which is closed due to debris and downed
power lines.
SES crews from Waroona, Bunbury and Murray are working to
temporarily repair the damage while crews from Mandurah and Collie
will provide assistance at first light.
Most other call outs were to homes in the Rockingham/Kwinana area,
but affected suburbs included Rockingham, Orelia, Baldivis,
Waikiki, Medina and Cooloongup, as well as Wilson, Hillman, Maida
Vale, High Wycombe, Bicton, Mosman Park, Clarkson, Girrawheen and
Currambine.
Many homes sustained damage caused by water leaking in from roofs.
Some householders also reported broken windows and fences blown
over.
More bad weather is expected this morning, with FESA warning that
residents between Jurien Bay and Bremer Bay should take action and
stay safe, as a deep low passes to the south of WA.
The warning includes people in Jurien Bay, the Perth Metropolitan
area, Mandurah, Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River, Bridgetown,
Katanning and Albany.
Weather details
The Bureau of Meteorology advises that bad weather is likely to
continue throughout the Perth metropolitan area and the southwest
of the state. The weather is likely to bring locally destructive
gusts, abnormally high tides and flash flooding.
A deep low pressure system is forecast to pass to the south of WA.
Widespread damaging winds to 100km/h could result in damage to
homes and property southwest of a line from Perth to Bremer Bay,
with dangerous gusts possible in localised areas.
Heavy showers and thunderstorms may cause flash flooding in some
areas.
Higher than normal tides between perth and cape leeuwin may cause
flooding of low-lying coastal areas, particularly in the geographe
bay area.
People in the southwest of WA experience a front as windy as this
about three or four times a year.
Perth has already received more than 100mm of rain this month and
meteorologists expect the city to hit the average 173mm for July
by Monday.