Perth’s wild weather in pictures, tornado rips through northern suburbs

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WITH Perth in the firing line of a sizeable cold front, a tornado ripped through Perth’s northern suburbs this morning.

The Bureau of Meteorology said it lasted about 10 minutes and moved through the suburbs of Sorrento, Duncraig, Warwick, Hamersley and Balga about 11.10am on Monday.

Tornadoes can occur two to three times each winter in the metropolitan area, the BoM says.

The weather lashed the central business district about 11.20am, with thunder, rain and wind battering the city.

Between 9am and 1pm, Perth recorded 12.8mm of rain, bringing the city past the long-term average for July for the first time 2008.

The largest casualty spotted was a large gum tree in Hammersley, which was brought down onto power lines – affecting power supplies to Warwick Grove Shopping Centre.

A home in the area also had its roof blown in, while thousands lost power during the onslaught.

The SES confirmed they had a crew in attendance at the site of the downed tree.