| Situation Update No. 1 Ref.no.: HS-20100322-25408-AUS
Situation Update No. 1
On 2010-03-22 at 18:02:18 [UTC]
Event: Hailstorm
Location: Australia State of Western Australia Perth Situation: A storm sweeping across Perth has caused widespread power cuts, damage and flash flooding as it dumped big hailstones and substantial rain on the parched city. Western Power reported lightning strikes had cut power to about 70,000 customers. Emergency services received reports of power lines and trees down, windows smashed and flooding in some areas. Western Power said in a statement that faults were widespread across the network, affecting northern and southern suburbs. The Bureau of Meteorology had warned the storm could produce damaging winds, large hail and flash flooding in and around the city. Office workers crowded to windows to watch sheets of rain sweep past as lightning flashed over the obscured Swan River, and some office buildings in the CBD were evacuated for safety reasons at the height of the storm. Dark and murky conditions after 5pm made driving dangerous as 85 sets of traffic lights were reported down. Motorists heading home were warned to slow down and turn their headlights on, while boaties, swimmers and surfers were urged to get out of the water. People calling local radio stations reported the biggest hailstones they had ever seen. Western Power said it expected a significant number of customers to be without power overnight and the severe weather would hamper restoration efforts. Perth has had a dry summer with minimal or no rain for months. |  |
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11:02 | 
Publicado por
NEWS
