More than 800,000 lightning strikes hit WA yesterday afternoon and evening as severe thunderstorms developed over a broad area of the state. Abundant tropical moisture fed into a trough which extended well south into the state. The highest density of strikes was registered over southwestern areas of WA, with about 630,000 lightning strikes within 800km of Southern Cross in the Central Wheat Belt district.  

Lightning strikes over WA yesterday Fri 11th 17:20 AWST

Severe thunderstorms also caused wind gusts exceeding 100km/h (137km/h in Jacup and 100km/h in Hopetoun North). 

Scattered-to-widespread convective activity leading to flash flooding and possibly damaging winds, should continue today and over the next couple of days as tropical moisture and unstable conditions will linger over the region. The areas affected should include the Pilbara, Gascoyne, Kimberley, Central West, northern parts of Central Wheat Belt and western areas of the Southern/Northern Interior.