In a dramatic incident in Western Australia’s Great Southern region, farmer Darcy Clode experienced a terrifying encounter with a tornado while working at a property on the Franklin River. The powerful storm struck suddenly, causing Clode’s utility vehicle to be overturned by intense winds. Witnesses captured the shocking events on their mobile phones as Clode sought safety from the vicious weather.
Clode recounted the moment he spotted a tree hurtling through the air towards him, prompting him to rush back to his ute for shelter. Unfortunately, he was caught directly in the tornado’s path, which he described as “taking me, dragging me across the ground, into a fence.” Debris, including rocks, was thrown at him, and his vehicle sustained severe damage, with the roof being “torn off” and the cab nearly destroyed. Fortunately, Clode’s dog, who was inside the vehicle, remained unharmed.
Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Luke Huntington stated that the tornado was swift, moving quickly and lasting only a few minutes. These types of storms are rare in Western Australia, with an average of only five tornadoes occurring each year during the winter months. Clode acknowledged the low likelihood of experiencing a similar event again, saying, “You’re surrounded by thousands of hectares, and it just so happened that I was in the path of it.”
The storm also wreaked havoc in other areas of the southern part of the state, where large hailstones were reported in Wagin, located approximately 200 kilometres southeast of Perth. Though this bout of wintry weather has subsided, another cold front is anticipated shortly.
Clode’s remarkable story not only highlights the unpredictability of severe weather but also serves as a sobering reminder of nature’s power.