Taking her first holiday in two years, club manager Megan Smith was urgently called back from her overseas trip when an unusual weather event struck her club.
Boyup Brook Club, around 260 kilometres south of Perth, lost part of its roof thanks to a “mini twister-like willy-willy”, according to staff.
The back part of the club and its gazebo were torn off during the event, which occurred around 4:30pm on Tuesday last week.
SES crews were sent from nearby Bridgetown to help.
According to witnesses, the day was still when the event happened. They watched as three smaller whirlwinds seemed to merge before hitting the club.
Fortunately, there was no-one inside at the time, but the club had to cancel an event for that evening, which was relocated to the town hall.
Bob Tarr, duty forecaster for the Bureau of Meteorology advised that at the time of the event the skies were clear, and winds were only around 25 to 30 kilometres per hour.
“The only thing it could possibly be is a willy-willy,” he said.
Tarr said that willy-willies form on the ground and move up. When there is cooler air above a very hot surface, occasionally the rising of the hot air can cause it to rotate.
Tarr also commented that it was rare to see this type of event in this location.
“They’re more regular in northern WA because of the heat,” Tarr said.
The total cost of the damage is not yet known.
