More than 313 000 lightning strikes were recorded across Western Australia's South West region in 12 hours to 19:00 LT on Sunday, July 5, 2020. Up to 40 000 were recorded in just 60 minutes. Residents of capital Perth witnessed 22 000 strikes within 12 hours, and of those 250 ground strikes over the city. Such thunderstorms are normal in spring and summer, but not in winter.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), the strikes were recorded between 23:00 UTC on July 4 to 11:00 UTC on July 5 (07:00 to 19:00 LT on July 5).
BOM's Pete Clegg said it affected the broader South West region, from Jurien Bay through to Busselton. "It was a very active lightning system, with prolonged lightning activity."
There were between 30 000 to 40 000 strikes across WA between 18:30 to 19:30 LT alone.
"It’s not the first time we have seen something like this," Clegg continued, "but it is definitely a specific set of environmental conditions the lead to this kind of very active lightning situation."
Heavy rainfalls hit WA as well, with the South West bearing the brunt of the wold weather. Witchcliffe near Margaret River recorded 52.8 mm (2.1 inches), while Bunbury received 26 mm (1 inch).
Perth really turned it on last night, who else loves a good lightning storm?
— Pentanet Perth Powered Internet (@Pentanet_ISP) July 6, 2020
Happy Monday, set some goals & smash them this week! pic.twitter.com/KxjLCTjgKD
What a show! #Lightning #WAstorm #PerthStorm #perthlightning #perthnews #perthweather pic.twitter.com/L8oRx5hhha
— jessica zoe allen (@jessicazoeallen) July 6, 2020
Here's another stunner from the storm last night.
— Lee Steele (@LeeSteele_) July 6, 2020
Photo by Devon-Daliah McNeill@10NewsFirstPER #perthlightning #perthstorm #perthnews #perthweather pic.twitter.com/UjlO4wQpEi
Thunderstorms were widespread across southwestern Australia on Sunday night, with over 50,000 lightning strikes detected within 100km of #Perth.
— Weatherzone (@weatherzone) July 6, 2020
Full story at https://t.co/MmoAq1ox8N
Photo via Instagram: coen_87 at Burns Beach, WA.#PerthWeather #WAweather pic.twitter.com/1bFu1cKj8S
Here is a couple from tonight's weather in Perth
— Bedford weather (@BedfordAWS) July 5, 2020
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.#weather #justanotherdayinWA #severeweather #extremeweather #Australia #storms #rainfall #perth #perthisok #yeeew #perthweather #Weatherchannel #lightning #Weathercloud #weatherunderground #weatherphotography #canonphoto pic.twitter.com/IOm1Yia1hO
In Perth, the southern suburbs were hit hardest, with Mandurah recording 16.4 mm (0.6 inches).
Emergency services accommodated six calls for help overnight but no major damage was reported.
The thunderstorm warning issued on July 5 is now canceled, but the wet weather is forecast to last until at least Wednesday, July 8.
As of July 6, BOM reported that thunderstorms with gusty winds are "firing up along the trough as the cold front moves eastwards through the Goldfields towards Kalgoorlie."
Featured image credit: Brandon Morgan/Unsplash
