Severe weather batters the Mid West region as ‘once-in-a-year’ event makes landfall

The Mid West copped a battering in recent days with damaging winds, heavy rainfall and dangerous surf conditions as a series of powerful cold fronts moved along the south coast. The “once-in-a-year” weather event has been stronger and lasted longer than usual, with 20.2 mm of rainfall recorded and wind gusts of up to 87km/h in Geraldton on Monday. A large catamaran had to be towed by the Mid West Ports Authority after it came ashore on Geraldton’s front beach around Monday afternoon, with at least two people on board, during the worst of the weather conditions. Local community members and off-duty port workers assisted the vessel off the beach with the prospect of large swells causing concerns. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, damaging westerly winds of up to 55km/h were predicted for Tuesday with a very high chance of showers during the afternoon and evening. While west to south-westerly winds of 35 to 55km/h and 4-6 mm of rainfall are expected on Wednesday. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said damaging winds averaging 65km/h with peak gusts in excess of 100km/h were possible about exposed locations along the west coast south of Jurien Bay. While it is also expected large and powerful waves will continue through to Wednesday. Sustained surf heavy developed along parts of the coast exposed to the west-southwest from late Monday night, with significant coastal erosion. A DFES spokesperson said Geraldton State Emergency Services received five calls from the Mid West/Gascoyne region on Monday. “There were five calls throughout the day between 11.50am and 4.40pm, but there were no calls overnight,” they said. The DFES spokesperson said four calls were due to roof damage and one for structural damage to homes in the Geraldton area. Two of those were associated with water damage.