Bureau investigating if Bunbury wild weather was a tornado

The Bureau of Meteorology is investigating whether Bunbury experienced a tornado early Tuesday morning after wind gusts equivalent to a category 2 cyclone were recorded in the state’s South West.

Locals are surveying the damage after trees were felled and fences flattened, with Busselton Jetty recording a maximum wind gust of 124km/h at 2am.

Cape Leeuwin also recorded a wind gust of 115km/h at 1.40am while in the metropolitan area, Jandakot recorded a wind gust of 98km/h at 9.10pm.

BOM meteorologist Jessica Lingard said the wild weather was sparked by a cold front passing through.

“It was the second cold front in a series of three that will pass over WA. The first was on Friday, the second was last night and another one will come through on Wednesday night and Thursday morning,” she said.

“This one was definitely the strongest of the three.

“We are investigating whether Bunbury experienced a microburst or tornado – microbursts are in a straight line and a tornado has a rotation.”

Lingard said the South West experiences about five tornados a year, including two in the Perth metropolitan area.

“The systems can bring down trees and damage roofs,” she said.

The South West also copped heavy rain overnight with Pemberton recording 45 millimetres.

In Perth, the gauge collected just 3.8mm, but the city’s south-eastern suburbs recorded more, with Bickley receiving 23mm.

Following Thursday’s cold front, the weather is expected to clear for the weekend.

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