Picture: @tromper99/twitter

The metropolitan area has been lashed by a sudden storm, with lightning, hail and rain sweeping across several suburbs.

Cottesloe and North Cottesloe beaches were closed earlier this afternoon and Scarborough and Trigg followed as the weather loomed just off the coast.

A Surf Life Saving WA spokesman said beaches were closed when lightning was within 10km of the shore.

Large hail fell in several suburbs in a reminder of the 2010 storm that caught the city by surprise.

RADAR: WATCH THE WEATHER ROLL IN

The storm is associated with the convergence of two weather systems.

The Weather Bureau extended a severe weather warning to the Perth metropolitan area.

Weather Bureau duty forecaster Pete Clegg said pressure systems to the west and east were joining up to create unpredictable weather conditions.

Were expecting heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding with damaging winds and light hail possible for anywhere south of Gingin and north of Mandurah, he said.

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Lighting storm closes beaches