WA weather: Lightning storm creates spectacular show over Perth, blacks out homes
Updated
A dramatic electrical storm has brought lightning and some rain to Perth, as well as parts of southern Western Australia, leaving thousands of people without power for part of the night.
The storm late on Wednesday night created widespread excitement as it blanketed Perth and surrounding areas with huge lightning strikes.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said it was caused by a surface trough combined with some instability over the southern half of the state.
However, despite the impressive sky show, the storm did not produce significant rainfall over Perth.
The city has recorded just 2.4 millimetres of rain since 9:00am on Wednesday, although Pearce north-east of the city has recorded 29.8mm.
While the rain mostly failed to arrive, the power cuts did — with more than 7,000 homes blacked out overnight as a result of the lightning strikes.
Western Power said homes in Perth, Moora, Bindoon, Wongan Hills and Dalwallinu were affected.
About 500 homes in Perth remained without electricity on Thursday morning, along with 1,500 to the north of the city and 200 to the south.
Western Power said electricity to those properties should be restored quickly.
House fire may have been sparked by lightning
Lightning is also believed to have started a house fire in the southern suburb of Parkwood.
The blaze started in the roof of the home on Ropele Drive just after 3:30am, but a family managed to escape the property unhurt.
Firefighters said the roof appeared to have been struck by lightning.
The damage bill has been estimated at $250,000.
Meanwhile, Perth Airport said the lightning storm had caused delays to about 25 flights.
Both inbound and outbound flights were affected, an airport spokeswoman said.
Passengers were advised to check airline website for the latest information.
A lightning strike also caused delays on Perth's Mandurah and Joondalup train lines after hitting a transformer, cutting power to signals on the lines.
A Public Transport Authority spokeswoman said trains were still running, but passengers should expects delays.
Meanwhile, a BOM spokesman said the thunderstorm would remain over Perth for most of the day, but was unlikely to produce widespread heavy rainfall.
Duty forecaster Noel Puzey said some areas of the city may get up to 20mm of rain, but the falls would be isolated.
Mr Puzey said the storm was not unusual during the summer and autumn period.
Topics: weather, perth-6000, wa, moora-6510, dalwallinu-6609, bindoon-6502, wongan-hills-6603
First posted
