Thunderstorm triggers car alarm

How's this for storm fury? A severe thunderstorm in Geraldton overnight triggered a car alarm.

The incident happened early this morning in the Woorree/Strathalbyn area.

Auto electrician Sandro Tranquim said he woke about 4am thinking it was his car, then realised it was elsewhere.

“It was most definitely triggered by the thunder,” he said.

“Modern vehicles have air movement or shock sensors in the cab. Thunder causes vibration in the air which causes the alarm to go off.

“I used to work at Heathrow Airport and every time the Concorde took off it would set off all the car alarms in the carpark. It was mad.”

The Mid West coastal region experienced the highest amount of lightning and thunder activity in WA overnight.

The Bureau of Meteorology recorded 12 knots of wind at the Geraldton airport as well as 8.8mm of rainfall overnight and a further 4.4mm since 9am this morning.

The bureau expects thunderstorms will continue throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has advised people not to shelter near trees, power lines or water sources if they are caught outside during an electrical storm.