Thousands without power as intense storm lashes Western Australia

Western Australia is grappling with significant power outages affecting thousands of homes after a fierce storm swept through the region overnight. As of Sunday afternoon, approximately 8,000 homes in the South West and 2,000 in the Perth metropolitan area were without electricity. Western Power aims to restore services to most customers by Sunday evening.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services responded to 120 calls for assistance, primarily in Perth, dealing with fallen trees, roof damage, and water ingress. The storm, characterized by a significant cold front, produced a wind gust of 117 kilometers per hour at Cape Leeuwin early Sunday morning. Busselton Airport recorded 51 millimeters of rain by 9 a.m., while Perth received 19 mm overnight.

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A deepening and intense low-pressure system will approach the south-west today and will bring a significant burst of damaging to locally destructive winds to western and southern parts of the South West Land Division.

Forecasters warn that the worst of the weather is yet to come. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for a large portion of southern WA, predicting damaging to locally destructive winds of up to 125 kilometers per hour for areas south-west of Lancelin to Albany, including Perth, by late Sunday afternoon. These conditions, described as occurring only once every three to five years, are expected to persist through Monday morning.

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The winds associated with the low-pressure system during Sunday afternoon, evening and Monday morning are expected to produce dangerous weather that is only seen once every three to five years in the south-west of Western Australia.