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Destruction in an Affluent Suburb
Multi‑million‑dollar homes and luxury vehicles lay in ruins after a rare tornado tore through City Beach—one of Perth’s wealthiest coastal suburbs—shortly after 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Waterspout to Tornado
Witnesses first spotted a towering waterspout off the coast near the City Beach oval. Moments later, it made landfall, ripping off roofs, uprooting trees, and hurling debris through the air.
Terrified Residents’ Accounts
“I thought the house was about to fly away,” said local Tilly, who watched roof panels and branches swirl above the tree line before ducking under her dining table. Neighbor Carlene described an “extraordinary” roar, likening it to a jet engine as wind blasted through her home.
Emergency Services Overwhelmed
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) logged over 100 calls for assistance in the aftermath, dispatching crews across the suburb to clear fallen trees and secure damaged properties.
Meteorologists Weigh In
A Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson, reviewing radar data and eyewitness video, concluded the system was almost certainly a tornado—likely spawned by a small supercell—underscoring the challenge of forecasting such localized storms.
Tornado Trends in Western Australia
Australia averages 30–80 tornadoes annually—though many go unreported in remote areas—and southwestern Western Australia typically sees around five each cool season, highlighting this event’s rarity in a populated beachside community.
