Home

Perth weather: Tree falls on car on Mitchell Freeway as wild weather hits

Sarah Steger, Kate Phillips & Bryce LuffThe West Australian
Severe weather and damaging winds hare causing chaos in Perth, as the city is smashed by more wild weather.
Camera IconSevere weather and damaging winds hare causing chaos in Perth, as the city is smashed by more wild weather.

Severe weather and damaging winds are causing chaos in Perth, as the city is smashed by more wild weather.

The State Emergency Service has received more than 140 calls for help in the past 24 hours, with the storm damage stretching from Two Rocks down to Albany.

Most calls have been from the Perth metropolitan area and have been in relation to flooding and roof and structural damage.

A roof was ripped of a two storey house in Yanchep, with photos of the damage posted to Facebook showing parts of the home’s exterior collapse atop of the balcony.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW
Roof lost in Yanchep after the storm.
Camera IconRoof lost in Yanchep after the storm. Credit: Facebook / Michael Baker/Facebook / Michael Baker
Roof lost in Yanchep after the storm.
Camera IconRoof lost in Yanchep after the storm. Credit: Facebook / Michael Baker/Facebook / Michael Baker

In Belmont, the local IGA’s roof caved in, exposing wires inside.

Belmont IGA lost part of its roof in the storm.
Camera IconBelmont IGA lost part of its roof in the storm. Credit: Ross Swanborough/The West Australian

A tree fell across Nicholson Road in Subiaco, rendering it impassable. While another tree fell on Mitchell Freeway southbound, blocking the emergency lane and one lane of traffic.

In Cooloongup a rear shed was blown into a neighbour’s property on Fitzroy Close, while in Bicton a fallen fence blocked access on Kanimbla Street.

Residents at a home on Drynan Street in Bayswater reported flooding in their lounge room, and in Armadale a tree landed on top of a home on Lilika Street.

Gutters were detached from a two-storey home in Burns Beach and in Canning Vale a shade sail was ripped off a Tremont Gardens home, as well as tiles from its roof.

While Swanbourne residents called the SES for help after the tin sheets on a roof started peeling off in the wind.

In Warnbro, wild winds toppled a KFC sign. The local Chicken Treat in Cooloongup also lost its sign.

Western Power says at least 80 properties are still without power, with widespread outages across dozens of suburbs including Wanneroo, Banksia Grove, Guildford, Armadale, Kenwick, Redcliffe and Morley.

The harrowing scene after a tree fell onto a car on Mitchell Freeway.
Camera IconThe harrowing scene after a tree fell onto a car on Mitchell Freeway. Credit: 7NEWS/NIGHT NEWS

The severe winds also caused a tree collapse on top of a car travelling northbound along Mitchell Freeway at about 11.15pm Saturday night.

It came crashing down just near near the Powis Street exit — narrowly avoiding other cars.

Incredibly, no one was hurt.
Camera IconIncredibly, no one was hurt. Credit: 7NEWS

Incredibly, no one was injured and the vehicle received only minor damage.

However, traffic was backed up for kilometres as crews worked frantically to clear the scene.

Traffic backed up in Mitchell Freeway.
Camera IconTraffic backed up in Mitchell Freeway. Credit: 7NEWS

Wind gusts between 80km/h to 100km/h were recorded across the Perth metropolitan area.

The highest wind gust was recorded in Ocean Reef at 100 km/h just before 6am this morning, while Gooseberry Hill recorded gusts of 87km/h, Bickley 84km/h and Mandurah and Melville Water both recorded winds of 85km/h.

There are also a number of traffic signals blacked out across the metropolitan area. Main Roads are asking motorists to take extra care on the roads.

It comes as Perth has recorded its wettest July in 26 years, falling just short of the month’s biggest drenching ever.

The Bureau of Meteorology described it as a “neck and neck race”.

“Perth's preliminary rainfall total for July was 271.4mm, 7.2mm short of the July 1995 record,” it said in a social media post last night.

Numbers this month were boosted by a number of heavy days, including on July 9 when major roads became rivers and ovals turned into lakes as suburbs across Perth were deluged by flash flooding.

A monster tree has fallen across the Midland train line.
Camera IconA monster tree has fallen across the Midland train line. Credit: Ralph Heyes

Interestingly, it rained on 28 of the 31 days this month, which hasn’t happened in 75 years.

“With rain recorded on 28 days it was the highest number of July rain days since 1946,” BOM said.

On top of the downpour, hail smashed parts of the north-east as well, with residents in Ellenbrook reporting being hit by heavy hail about 11am.

There are also reports of snow falling on Bluff Knoll in the Stirling Range.

A severe weather warning is still in place for parts of the Midwest-Gascoyne, Perth Metropolitan, Great Southern, South West, Lower South West.

DFES says if you live in Lower West, South West, South Coastal, Great Southern and parts of Central West, South East Coastal and Central Wheat Belt districts you should take action and stay safe with severe thunderstorms to come.

Locations which may be affected include Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Dunsborough, Esperance, Katanning, Mandurah, Manjimup, Margaret River, Merredin, Moora, Mount Barker, Narrogin, Northam and Perth.

PERTH FORECAST

Sunday: 16C - showers and possible storm

Monday: 16C - possible showers

Tuesday: 17C - shower or two

Wednesday: 19C - partly cloudy

Thursday: 20C - sunny

Friday: 22C - partly cloudy

Saturday: 19C - showers

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails