Perth tornado: State could be hit with more freak storms, with BOM recording five tornadoes in WA each year

Western Australia could be hit with more freak storms, with the Bureau of Meteorology recording up to five tornadoes in the State’s South West each winter.

The Bureau on Thursday said an initial assessment indicated a “low intensity tornado” tore through City Beach about 5.25pm on Wednesday.

It said Australia experienced up to around 80 tornadoes each year, but said the figure could be far higher because many occurred in remote regions and went unreported.

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Shocking photos show aftermath of freak tornado in Perth

About five tornadoes are reported in south-west WA during the cool season.

The last tornado to rip through the State’s South West was in Frankland River — about 120km north-west of Albany — on June 3.

The Bureau said a tornado was defined as a “violently r