Tornado tosses vehicles and damages farm near Frankland River, Western Australia
A tornado swept through the Frankland River area in southern Western Australia on Tuesday afternoon, June 3, 2025, injuring a farmer, flipping a tractor, and damaging farm equipment.
An unexpected tornado passed through the Frankland River area on the afternoon of June 3, while thunderstorm warnings were active across parts of southern Western Australia.
The twister touched down near Frankland River, approximately 280 km (174 miles) southeast of Perth. It overturned a car, tore the cab walls off a tractor, and left a farmer bruised after knocking him to the ground.
The farmer was installing fencing when the tornado struck. He reported seeing lightning in the distance when a funnel cloud began rotating approximately 1 km (0.6 miles) away. The tornado spun for about two minutes, moving toward him and damaging trees in the area.
Meteorologist Angeline Prasad from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) stated that the tornado was unexpected, although severe thunderstorms were occurring in the area. She described it as a cold-season tornado, which behaves differently from the more common warm-season tornadoes in the United States.
According to a BOM spokesperson, Australia records approximately 30 to 80 tornadoes annually, although many may go unreported due to occurring in remote and unpopulated regions.
“During the cool season, an average of around five tornadoes is reported in Western Australia,” the spokesperson added.
03.06.2025#Australia
— Climate Review (@ClimateRe50366) June 3, 2025
The #tornado left a path of destruction in its wake for about two minutes, destroying trees and damaging vehicles. Golf ball-sized #hail struck the town of Wagin, in the Wheatbelt, where residents reported damage to roofs and vehicles.(ABCGreatSouthern) pic.twitter.com/cps8AnWIx6
A low-pressure system is expected to pass near the coast on Wednesday, June 4, bringing heavy rain and damaging thunderstorms to Perth and much of southern Western Australia.
Golf-ball-sized hail fell in the Wheatbelt town of Wagin, where residents reported damage to roofs and vehicles. Forecasts indicate Perth could receive up to 40 mm (1.6 inches) of rain as the system moves through.
According to Prasad, the system will continue to produce severe weather, with the most significant impact expected in the south-west of the state, particularly around Windy Harbour and Walpole.
Daily rainfall totals are forecast to range between 30–50 mm (1–2 inches), with cumulative totals for the event potentially reaching up to 100 mm (4 inches) in some areas.
Feature image credit: Nathan McGregor
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