Australia Weather News

Stormy weather continues to batter Western Australia, with residents of a Pilbara mining town the latest to bear the brunt. 

Locals in Tom Price, about 1,450 kilometres north of Perth, were left shaken after a severe thunderstorm damaged buildings, ripped up trees and forced the closure of shops when it hit town on Wednesday afternoon.

Schools and day cares went into lockdown as the storm intensified during the afternoon. 

Nintirri Community Centre chief executive Sylvia Winkler said children had to be moved away from windows for their safety.

"We had equipment, trees and branches flying about, bits from the roof and there was banging on the windows," she said. 

"Especially our little ones, they get quite upset.

"I've been here 15 years and seen my share of thunderstorms — but this is the worst I've seen." 

Shire of Ashburton councillor Matthew Lynch is based in Tom Price and witnessed the storm from his front window.

He said it was short and brutal.

"It was absolutely unreal — it was 10, 15 minutes of utter chaos," Cr Lynch said.

"Central Tom Price … looks like a war zone, there's probably 30-odd trees uprooted."

Shire maintenance crews and State Emergency Service (SES) teams are currently working clear roads.

"There's been some building damage, mainly to fencing and things like water ingress, but not too much," Cr Lynch said.

"There's been a few vehicles damaged."

Wild weather could continue

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Angeline Prasad said there had been an "outbreak" of tropical thunderstorms, and little respite was on the way. 

"This trough is pretty slow-moving so it's not expected to move much over the next couple of days," she said.

"The risk of severe thunderstorms is greatest today and tomorrow, easing a bit from Friday, but there's a lot of energy in the atmosphere at the moment.

"So these thunderstorms could still pack a punch heading into the weekend."

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services have issued a Watch and Act warning for Tom Price. 

Residents are being advised to stay off the roads and away from damaged buildings and hazards, like downed powerlines and fallen trees. 

There have been 33 requests for assistance to Tom Price SES.