Date

Description

6 July 2004

A tornado moved through the Margaret River region between 5:30 and 6:00am. It uprooted/destroyed trees, brought down power lines and blew over a 6 tonne container.

7 July 2004

A convergence line moved through the Perth Metropolitan area between 9 and 10am. It produced a wind gust to 54 knots (100 km/h) at Ocean Reef. A cold pool followed and produced a wind gust of 55 knots (102 km/h) at Swanbourne.

21 July 2004

A cut-off low formed off the Central West Coast on 19 July 2004. The low deepened and then moved to the southeast. A storm surge of 0.95m was recorded at Busselton at 1310 WST where the tide reached 2.1m at 1130 WST.  The strongest wind gust recorded was 55 knots (102 km/h) at Rottnest Island. An associated cloud band caused cumulative rainfall totals in excess of 100mm in the Gascoyne.

11 August 2004

A tornado moved through the Bunbury area just after 11:00am.

23-25 August 2004

Two strong fronts swept through the southwest causing widespread minor damage. The first moved through overnight Monday night causing wind gusts to 119 km/h at Cape Leeuwin. A Western Power worker was electrocuted while repairing fallen power lines in the Perth suburb of Carlisle

The second front was a little stronger and a more vigorous post frontal cold air mass. Cape Leeuwin recorded a wind gust of 73 knots (135 km/h).

11-12 October 2004

A moderate cold front moved through the southwest overnight. Cape Leeuwin recorded a maximum wind gust of 104 km/h (56 knots). The front was preceded by a strong and gusty NW'ly airstream which produced a wind gust of 91 km/h (49 knots) at Manjimup.

20-21 October 2004

Overnight storms associated with the passage of an upper trough moved through the Lower West and adjacent districts. One farmer, north of Northam, reported hail to 2 cm diameter. Bindoon reported 49.8 mm.

24-25 October 2004

Severe thunderstorms in consecutive days caused some damage in the Kununurra area. The airport recorded gusts to 117 km/h (63 knots) on the 24th and 119 km/h (64 knots) on the 25th. Hail to approximately 2 cm was also reported.

2 November 2004

Yourdamung Lake, near Collie, recorded 67.6 mm in 20 minutes, small hail and strong winds during at thunderstorm. Only minor damage was reported.

14 November 2004

Evening thunderstorms caused wind gusts measured to 113 km/h at Argyle and to 90 km/h at Kununurra.

23 November 2004

A severe storm northeast of Darkan (SE of Perth) caused damaging winds along a 1.5 km track about 500 m wide.

24 November 2004

Sturt Meadows station, near Leonora, experienced severe winds during a thunderstorm lasting 15 minutes at 8 pm. Roofs were blown off buildings and trees uprooted.

14 December 2004

Strong winds, estimated at 100-120 km/h, snapped tree branches southeast of Hyden during a thunderstorm at 8pm.

27 December 2004

Afternoon thunderstorms caused strong winds, measured to 100 km/h (54 knots) at Morawa, large hail reported to 2.5cm near Yuna inland from Geraldton, Badgingarra and to 2cm in Perths western suburbs. Strong winds and hail cut a 1 km swathe on the Wooleen property in the Murchison.

28 December 2004

Tamaru, 20 km northeast of Albany Airport registered 46 mm in 45 minutes during a storm. Leinster recorded a gust to 91 km/h (49 knots) at 4:56 pm.

23 January 2005

Newdegate recorded gusts to 98 km/h (53 knots) during a thunderstorm at 8:30 pm.

26 February 2005

Southern Cross recorded gusts to 94 km/h (51 knots) during a thunderstorm at 6:50 pm.

27 March 2005

A left-moving storm appeared severe by radar near Wongan Hills at about 6pm.

31 March-2 April

An upper level low developed off the lower west coast and moved slowly into the Great Southern. The heaviest rainfall was recorded at Broomehill near Katanning where 142 mm fell in the 24 hours to 9am on the 1st. Further heavy rain on the 1st towards the south coast broke many daily and 48 hour rainfall records for the area. Kendenup recorded 125mm to 9am on the 2nd.

Large hail, averaging about golf-ball size (4cm) but as large as tennis balls (6 cm) caused a swathe of damage, stripped leaves from trees in a 1 km strip at Lake Bromus, about 30 km south of Norseman on the 31st.

2 May 2005

A tornado damaged about six properties in Byford, south of Armadale at 4:50am.

3-6 May 2005

Thunderstorms caused heavy rain over a wide area of pastoral lands. Tuckanarra (near Cue) reported a daily fall of 82mm to 9am on the 6th. Leinster had a daily fall of 77 mm, of which 41.8 mm fell in 2 hours (5th) and 21 mm fell in 24 minutes. Hail, the size of marbles, occurred at Burringurrah Community (near Mt Augustus) on the 6th.

The highest cumulative rainfall for the week ending 6 May occurred at Barrow Island with 165mm.

16 May 2005

The passage of a strong cold front caused widespread damage to Perth suburbs and parts of the SW Land Division. Multiple tornadoes occurred on the leading edge of the front the worst being at Bicton and Bunbury at about 6am. Substantial building damage was caused in Bunbury and Bicton where damage was consistent with at least F2 damage (179-250 km/h). A wind gust of 143 km/h (77 knots) was recorded at Rottnest Island.

18/19 May 2005

The passage of a rain band and associated cold front caused heavy rain over the lower southwest. Brunswick Junction recorded 111 mm. A river broke its banks at Brunswick Junction. Ocean Reef recorded a wind gust of 98 km/h.

21 May 2005

Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon and there was a report of a funnel cloud off the coast near Cottesloe about 2:30pm. Golf ball sized hail was reported from the suburb of Atwell. Jandakot Airport recorded 7.4mm in 10 minutes between 1910 and 1920 WST.

4 June 2005

Warriup, between Cheyne Beach and Mettler recorded 201.2 mm in the 24 hours to 9am on the 5th. This is the highest one day fall in the SWLD for any winter month. The highest falls at neighbouring sites were 75 mm at Mettler and 56 mm at Cheyne Beach.

7 June 2005

A cold front and low pressure system resulted in a wind gust of 96 km/h at Rottnest Island. The highest 24 hr. rainfall was 64mm at Armadale.

8-9 June 2005

A cold front and low pressure system produced a wind gust of 113 km/h at Cape Naturaliste.

11-13 June 2005

A cold, unstable SW'ly airstream brought heavy showers and hail to southern parts of the SWLD. Cape Leeuwin recorded a wind gust to 117 km/h (11th). The highest 24 hour rainfall was 63mm at Bremer Bay.

18-19 June 2005

A middle level cloud band and surface trough produced heavy rainfall over the Kimberley. Roebuck Plains recorded 86mm on the 18^th and Kilto Station recorded 81mm on the 19^th.

23 June 2005

A cold front and low pressure system produced a wind gust of 109 km/h at Rottnest Island. Busselton Shire recorded 52mm in 24hrs to 9am on the 23^rd.

30 June 2005

The passage of a cold front produced a wind gust of 94 km/h at Cape Leeuwin.