Storm closes beaches after day of drama
Lightning forced the closure of several beaches this morning, a day after the city recorded its hottest November day in four years.
A 17-year-old was one of 23 rescues yesterday as big crowds hit the beach to escape the heat.
But this morning the drama was in the skies, with lightning, thunder and heavy rain.
Surf Life Saving WA closed Mullaloo, Sorrento, City Beach, Cottesloe and North Cottesloe beaches this morning because of lightning.
The beaches were reopened after the storm passed.
CLICK ON THE PICTURE BELOW FOR A PICTURE GALLERY
The temperature is expected to dip back down to 25C today and 24C tomorrow and stay around the mid-20s for the rest of the week.
Lightning is believed to be responsible for delays to Perth’s train network this morning.
Just before 7am, Transperth said services on the Joondalup and Mandurah lines were delayed because of a technical issue.
Transperth spokesman David Hynes said the delays were minor and all trains on the line were still running.
Trains were running only a few minutes late and the issue was expected to be resolved soon.
The weather is also causing problems for motorists on Perth roads during peak-hour traffic this morning.
Traffic signals are faulty at intersections across the metropolitan area, including some of the busiest such as Reid Highway at Mirrabooka Avenue, Mirrabooka; Morley Drive at Karrinyup Road, Balcatta; Beaufort St at Central Avenue, Mt Lawley.
Other intersections affected are Flinders St at Blythe Avenue, Yokine; Warwick Road at Dorchester Avenue, Warwick; and in Bayswater, Whatley Crescent at Garratt Road, Guildford Road at Garratt Road, Guildford Road at King William St, and Railway Parade at Grand Promenade.
Emergency services crews are being kept busy with the weather setting off alarm systems.
BEACH DRAMA
The West Australian was at Scarborough beach when the teenager and his friend - who were swimming outside the red and yellow flags - were caught in a rip and dumped by a wave at 1.30pm. The teenager swallowed a lot of water.
Two men swimming nearby helped him out of the water.
Surf lifesavers saved the other youth, who was shouting for help in the rough swell.
Lifesavers gave the teenager oxygen on the beach, and later took him to Scarboro surf lifesaving club headquarters, where he was treated by St John Ambulance officers.
He was not taken to hospital.
The dramatic rescue was one of many around Perth, including a 12-year-old girl who suffered suspected spinal injuries when she was dumped by a wave at Leighton beach.
Surf Life Saving WA reported another suspected spinal injury at Mullaloo beach about 2pm and there were multiple shark sightings throughout the day, including a 4m shark spotted at Busselton Jetty.
As the temperature peaked at 37.8C just after 3pm, thousands flocked to the beach, transforming usually quiet beachside roads into carparks.
Cars were also spotted parking on median strips on West Coast Highway in an attempt to get as close as possible to the beach.
Mickael Matisse, 25, from Paris, who has lived in Perth for three years, was playing soccer on the beach with a bunch of friends.
"Well it definitely beats Paris at this time of year," he said.
