Technology

At least 18,000 properties are without power across Western Australia, with the severe storm bringing wind gusts of more than 100 kilometres per hour.

At least 18,000 homes and businesses are without power across Western Australia as a severe storm tracks down the coast, bringing wind gusts of more than 100 kilometres per hour.
Key points:

  • About 18,000 properties are without power across Western Australia
  • Winds of more than 100 kilometres per hour have been recorded near Geraldton
  • Conditions are expected to worsen as the storm progresses down the coast

Just under 10,000 of the affected properties are in WA’s Mid West region, between Kalbarri and Leeman, with at least 33 calls for assistance recorded so far.
In the Perth metropolitan area, about 6,500 homes and businesses have been impacted by the storm.
The worst-affected suburbs are in the east of Perth, including Bayswater, Bassendean and Ashfield, along with the hills suburbs of Sawyers Valley and Mount Helena.
The storm system, which is sitting just off the West Australian coast, has brought wind gusts of 100 kilometres per hour to the Mid West.(Supplied: windy.com)
Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) WA manager James Ashley said the weather formation was “dynamic and complex”, as a system from ex-Tropical Cyclone Mangga interacted with a cold front.
Dust storm hits Mid West
Dust from the storm has blanketed parts of WA’s Mid West coast, including Geraldton, with strong winds bringing power lines down.
Port Denison, Dongara, Cape Burney and Greenough, along with Kalbarri, are among the worst-affected areas.
A dust storm blankets the Nanutarra roadhouse, about 150 kilometres south-east of Exmouth.(Supplied)
Winds have reached more than 100kph on North Island, off the coast of Geraldton, while wind speeds at both Geraldton and Carnarvon have increased to more than 80kph.
“All this wind is picking up the dust through parts of the Gascoyne and the Central West, but the rain should increase in the coming hours so hopefully that will dampen that down,” BOM forecaster Jessica Lingard said.
St Francis Xavier Cathedral, in Geraldton, shrouded in dust from the storm.(ABC News: Cecile O’Connor)
Power outages are now also affecting more than 3,000 properties near Geraldton and Kalbarri.
“We are expecting conditions to worsen down the west coast as we move into this afternoon,” Ms Lingard said.
A ute drives down Marine Terrace, in Geraldton, in front of grain silos obscured by dust.(ABC News: Cecile O’Connor)
A total fire ban remains in place for the entire state south of Carnarvon.
In the past 24 hours, five ‘watch and act’ alerts have been issued for fires, including in the Mid West and greater Perth area.
More to come.