Perth’s once-in-a-generation storm hits second state
A once-in-a-generation storm has caused lasting damage to Perth beaches before moving thousands of kilometres west to Adelaide, flooding roads and leaving water lapping at houses in some parts of the city.
Parts of NSW and Victoria also suffered through some wild weather as they were buffeted by wind gusts beyond 100km/h on the second day of winter.
Storms hit Adelaide today. 9News
But South Australia remained the weather focal point tonight as wild seas battered the gulf coasts and damaging winds buffeted a thin strip of land from Adelaide’s east up through the Mount Lofty and Flinders Ranges.
The State Emergency Service received hundreds of calls for help over a day and a half as the wind stirred up pockets of chaos around the state.
“We have seen some for inundation, so very minor flooding, water entering through roofs,” SES chief of staff Robert Charlton said.
Surfers braved the waves at the Brighton Jetty. 9News
Roads were flooded in various parts of the city and parts of Salisbury lost power overnight but the rain fell heaviest in the Adelaide Hills, with 67 millimetres in Crafers West.
It was blustery at West Beach tonight and even worse at Middle Beach, where flooding was lapping at the doorsteps of some houses.
The wintry weather is expected to hang around into tomorrow.
Perth beaches cop a battering
In Perth, stretches of beach were turned into cliff edges and thousands remained without power as authorities worked to get them back online.
Metres of sand dunes and viewing platforms were wept away in the fury of the weekend storm at Madora Bay Beach.
Fremantle’s Port Beach was also battered and another five metres disappeared from in front of the Lancelin Sands Hotel beachfront further north.
“We do provide annual funding to assist with ongoing erosion across the coast,” Minister for Planning and Lands John Carey said.
Emergency crews received more than 900 calls for help during the storm.
Perth beaches were carved away by storms that hit the city in early June 2026. Andy Carolan
Wintry further east
In Victoria, the Alpine region copped wind gusts of up to 100km/h and about 15 centimetres of snow fell at Mount Hotham.
Melbourne is set for chilly days, with up to 25 millimetres of rain on Thursday.
In NSW, the Great Dividing Range and the Northern Tablelands were also hit with strong winds.
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