Bureau of Meteorology confirms High Wycombe tornado after initial denial as wet weather lashes WA

Weather boffins have backflipped on denials a tornado tore through an eastern suburbs street on Friday after initially debunking the claims.

Reports of a possible tornado began to surface online after heavy rain and damaging winds lashed Emu Court in High Wycombe, about 1.30pm.

The Bureau of Meteorology initially shot down the claim, saying “there was not a thunderstorm in the area at the time, and there is not yet evidence of a funnel cloud reaching the ground in this area”.

“Current evidence, including radar observations, were insufficient to suggest a tornado,” a spokesperson said.

That was despite footage circulating online of a funneling wind tearing through the High Wycombe street, sending roof tiles and debris flying.

The BoM stood firm on its non-tornado stance on Saturday mor