Crikey it’s wet

[onetrack]

We've just had a pretty violent low pressure system move through the SW of the State, bringing much needed rain, along with strong winds.

 

The BOM got a bit hysterical yesterday with a Severe Storm Warning, talking up a "one in 5 year storm" with 125km/hr winds, but the winds weren't quite that bad, with a number of areas around Perth and the foothills recording 98km/hr maximum wind gusts, with average wind speeds probably around 65-80km/hr.

 

The SW Capes - Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin, recorded 109km/hr and 119km/hr maximum gusts, and Busselton Jetty recorded 109km/hr as a maximum gust.

Rainfall overall was between about 10-25mm, with most inland areas receiving useful falls, although a few strips missed out and only recorded 6-8mm.

 

There's the normal amount of Winter storm damage, a good number of trees down, a few sheds and sheets of iron went flying, and there's a few thousand people without power this morning.

No damage to report here at home, although the fruit trees took a pummelling, there are mandarins and limes everywhere in the backyard, although the orange tree is O.K. They're all in full fruit, of course, as expected for this time of year.

 

Edited yesterday at 02:13 AM by onetrack

[facthunter]

Perth is often called the Windy City.  Nev

[onetrack]

We've certainly earned that moniker well and truly today. The wind is still screaming, and looks like keeping up for a while yet. They had a gust of 102kmh at Swanbourne, and gusts of 133kmh and 135kmh at the Capes this afternoon. Rottnest Island recorded a gust of 113kmh just before 3:00PM, but it looks like the wind knocked the recording station out, it's currently offline.

This is the most intense low pressure system I've encountered for quite a while, so maybe the BOM was right about it being a 1-in-5 year storm. My SD is currently without power in Stoneville, up in the Hills.

[onetrack]

This is local news from this morning, the weather has taken a turn for the worse this afternoon. 

 

https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/wa-storm-leaves-thousands-without-power-across-the-state-20260531-p602e9.html

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-31/intense-storm-hits-wa-thousands-without-power/106741236

 

It's not being helped much by the current full moon causing high tides. So with the storm surge, a lot of places along the Swan River are under water.

 

Edited 17 hours ago by onetrack

[facthunter]

I don't think being a full moon causes the Highest tides.  It indicates the sun is on the Other side of the world. How low did the Barometer get? It's worth while Having one in your House to note it's readings and Movements. They last a long time. Nev

[facthunter]

On one occasion at PH the Ansett plane before Me landed and sat there clear of the runway. TWR said you are clear to taxi to which he replied, No I'm just going to sit here and watch TAA Land. It was by far the Most violent air I've ever flown in. The B 727 Has Massive control authority with spoilers  as well as ailerons, all hydraulically controlled and using thrust as well for Airspeed control. Nev

[onetrack]

Yes, a full moon does create higher than normal tides - but the tide height is also dependent on whether the Moon (or Sun) is at perigee or apogee, and whether the Sun and Moon and Earth are fully aligned.

The Moon is currently close to perigee, so its gravitational pull is higher than it's been in recent years.

 

Re the barometric pressure, Busselton Jetty weather recording instruments went off line in the storm, but Busselton Airport recorded 989.9hPa at 7:00 on 31/05, so a reasonably intense low.

The centre of the low was well S of Albany, and it appeared to be around 987hPa at its centre. In Perth, we recorded 997.1hPa at 4:00AM on 31/05.

 

Edited 1 hour ago by onetrack

[facthunter]

The closeness of the Isobars gives an indication of the Wind velocity (Pressure gradient).  Yes high tides occur on opposite sides of the World but surely when the sun and the Moon are together they Combined gravities pull Harder. .Nev