A dramatic video has revealed the moment water burst through the ceiling of a Rockingham shopping centre store as Perth endured another bout of severe winter weather.
Shoppers inside the Jim Kidd sports store at Rockingham Centre were stunned when heavy rain overwhelmed the building's roof, causing water to pour into the shop and flood sections of the store. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon as a powerful cold front moved across the Perth metropolitan area.
Footage from the scene showed multiple leaks developing across the ceiling before torrents of water cascaded onto the floor, forcing shoppers and staff to move quickly to avoid the rapidly spreading puddles.
The roof failure came amid widespread wet and windy conditions affecting Perth and surrounding regions. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Perth recorded wind gusts of up to 54km/h during the early hours of Tuesday morning, while 11mm of rainfall was measured across the city over a 24-hour period. Most of the rainfall occurred overnight, with 7.4mm falling during the early morning hours.
Stronger wind gusts were experienced along the coast, with Hillarys recording winds of 72km/h. Cape Leeuwin, in the State's South West, experienced even more severe conditions, with gusts reaching 93km/h.
Despite the wild weather beginning to ease by Tuesday afternoon, forecasters warned Perth residents that conditions were unlikely to improve for long. Another cold front is expected to move across the South West later this week, bringing the possibility of further showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds.
The Bureau of Meteorology has also forecast a run of chilly mornings for Perth, with temperatures expected to drop to as low as 7°C over coming days as winter conditions intensify across the region.
Strong wind warnings remain in place for several coastal areas, including waters off Perth, Geraldton, Lancelin, Bunbury and parts of the Gascoyne coast. Gale-force winds are also forecast for sections of the South Coast.
The incident at Rockingham Centre serves as another reminder of the impact severe weather can have on businesses and public spaces. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries linked to the roof collapse, although the event caused significant disruption for retailers and shoppers.
Authorities continue to urge residents to exercise caution during periods of severe weather, particularly around damaged buildings, flooded areas and locations affected by strong winds.
As Perth braces for additional cold fronts later this week, emergency services are encouraging the community to stay informed through official weather updates and take necessary precautions to remain safe.
