Lightning, hail, rain in flash storm

The metropolitan area has been lashed by a sudden storm, with lightning, hail and rain sweeping across several suburbs.

Cottesloe and North Cottesloe beaches were closed earlier this afternoon and Scarborough and Trigg followed as the weather loomed just off the coast.

A Surf Life Saving WA spokesman said beaches were closed when lightning was within 10km of the shore.

Large hail fell in several suburbs in a reminder of the 2010 storm that caught the city by surprise.

RADAR: WATCH THE WEATHER ROLL IN

The storm is associated with the convergence of two weather systems.

The Weather Bureau extended a severe weather warning to the Perth metropolitan area.

Weather Bureau duty forecaster Pete Clegg said pressure systems to the west and east were joining up to create unpredictable weather conditions.

“We’re expecting heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding with damaging winds and light hail possible for anywhere south of Gingin and north of Mandurah,” he said.

“With the conditions we’ve got there is the potential we could see hail of 2cm or greater in diameter.

"It is large enough to cause some damage and be a danger to people out in the open so we recommend people take cover."

A severe thunderstorm warning has already been issued for large part of the State including the South West and the Goldfields.

The Weather Bureau is warning of damaging winds, large hail and heavy rainfall for the Gascoyne, Goldfields, Eucla, South Coastal, South East Coastal, GreatSouthern and Central Wheat Belt forecast districts.

Authorities have issued weather warnings for people in Bremer Bay, Corrigin, Northam, Beacon, Cue, Meekatharra, Wiluna, Laverton, Balladonia and Israelite Bay.

People in, near or between Esperance, Southern Cross, Meekatharra and Kalgoorlie can also expect severe weather.

Weather Bureau duty forecaster Mark Paull said thunderstorms would bring strong winds and heavy rains to these parts of the State over the next two days.

“A trough through central parts of the State is interacting with a mid level though and the combination of the two is resulting in the bad weather.

“It is expected to continue in the same areas through tomorrow.”

Mr Paull said thunderstorms would reach the metropolitan area but did not expect their impact to be severe.

The storm may bring flash flooding and could cause significant damage to homes and property.

The overall weather pattern is unusual for this time of year.