In early November a severe hailstorm lashed Western Australia's Great Southern and Wheatbelt regions, delivering heavy rain (over 100 mm in some towns), widespread flooding and damage to roads and buildings. Farmers reported large losses — including two sheep killed by lightning and canola crops damaged with seeds knocked to the ground. Officials also linked fallen branches to fires that destroyed sheds and standing crops. Experts warn that climate-driven extremes increase the risks to crops, livestock and transport, while NGOs are promoting regenerative and water-saving farming practices to boost resilience.
'Unbelievable' Hailstorm Wreaks Havoc on Canola and Infrastructure Across Australia's Grain Regions
In early November a severe storm swept through Western Australia's Great Southern and Wheatbelt regions, leaving widespread damage to crops, roads and buildings.
Storm Damage and Immediate Impacts
Local reporting by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said heavy rain and hail produced extensive flooding and infrastructure damage across multiple towns, disrupting the grain harvest. Some communities recorded more than 100 millimetres of rain during what residents described as an "unbelievable" storm.
Farmers' Losses
Farmer Murray Hall — who was driving when the storm hit — told the ABC he feared the large hail would smash his windscreen. He reported that two of his sheep were killed by lightning and that his canola crop suffered heavy damage: "We've looked at some of our canola. There is extensive damage — the seeds are all on the ground," he said.
"It was a running river of hail at one point," Brookton Shire president Rod Wallis told the ABC.
Reporters also linked the extreme weather to secondary incidents: in Tammin a snapped tree branch fell onto a power line and sparked a fire that destroyed sheds and standing crops.
Wider Risks and Climate Context
Scientists and relief organisations say extreme weather events have intensified in recent years, in part because of rising global temperatures. Oxfam America warns that droughts and intense downpours — both linked to warming — can cause crop failures, kill livestock, displace farming families and disrupt livelihoods. The U.S. Department of Agriculture notes that shifting weather patterns increase soil erosion, with drought allowing wind to blow soil away and floods washing it out of fields.
The Columbia Climate School highlights additional risks to farmers: extreme weather can delay transport of harvested crops, increasing spoilage and financial losses. Because food is traded globally, production shortfalls or transport interruptions in one region can contribute to shortages and higher prices elsewhere.
Adaptation and Relief Efforts
Despite worsening conditions, governments, NGOs and farming communities are pursuing adaptation and recovery measures. The World Wildlife Fund works with vulnerable communities to teach resilient farming methods, help farmers adjust to changing conditions and press governments to accelerate clean-energy transitions. Other groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and organisations cited by Earth.Org, promote regenerative practices — such as rotational grazing, cover crops, drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting — to protect yields and conserve water.
Local authorities are assessing damage and prioritising repairs to roads and power infrastructure while support agencies mobilise to assist affected farmers. The storm is a reminder of how extreme weather can produce immediate destruction and longer-term risks to food production and rural livelihoods.
