Southwest Australia lashed by storms

Perth pummelled by damaging winds and flooding rains

Violent storms with damaging winds, lightning and heavy rain batter southwestern Australia [EPA]

Severe weather warnings were in place along the west coast of Western Australia on Tuesday as damaging winds, lightning and heavy rain battered the area. Some parts had their wettest day in six years.

Perth recorded 51mm of rain in 24 hours, meanwhile further east Bickley notched up a total of 71mm of rain. This was their wettest June day since 1997 and there has been some localized flooding.

The storm was accompanied by violent winds. Across the southwest, strong winds buffeted  the southern capes, with repeated wind gusts  over 100kmph recorded at Busselton and Cape Naturaliste. The highest reached was 111kph at Busselton Jetty.

The area of low pressure associated with the storm is now in the process of moving east along the Great Australian Bight. It is in the process of weakening as it does so, but, high tides could cause further flooding over the next few days.

Source: Al Jazeera