Wild storm cuts power across Perth
UPDATE: Squally winds ripped the roof off a three-storey apartment block overlooking North Cottesloe beach, with part of the torn metal spearing into the roof of the neighbouring Hawkestone Street home.
No one was injured and State Emergency Service workers are trying to remove a large section of roof dangling down the side of the building.
Residents from the top floor of the apartment were evacuated early this morning.
No-one was home at the neighbouring property, which is being renovated.
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But a man and woman renovating the home, which the woman said used to be their mother's, came to assess the damage.
They were told the flying metal had punctured their roof but they were not allowed inside to check what other damage was done until SES had made the area safe.
They said they had insurance and were glad no one was hurt.
Picture: Steve Ferrier/The West Australian
A nearby resident said she slept through the storm and the destruction it wrought.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has cancelled a severe thunderstorm warning people from Walpole to Lake Grace to Salmon Gums to Israelite Bay.
This includes people in Albany, Esperance and surrounding areas
SES volunteers clean up after storm rips roof off unit block in Cottesloe. Picture: Steve Ferrier / The West Australian
A Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said State Emergency Service crews responded to 85 calls from Mandurah to Joondalup as part of the overnight storms.
He said the damage was widespread and was mainly leaking and damaged roofs.
"There have also been a number of pole fires caused by the rain," he said.
A Cottesloe home damaged during last night's wild storm. Picture: Steve Ferrier / The West Australian
Cockburn was worst hit with 16 calls for help.
More than 8000 residents in the metropolitan area are now without power after lightning strikes impacted electricity poles.
A Western Power spokesman said the time it took to restore power to homes would depend on the type of damage that had occurred.
“Lightning has caused power interruptions across the metropolitan area, but Western Power has restored power for most of those customers within half an hour,” he said.
“We are working to restore power to customers who are still affected.
“If there are physical faults that need to be repaired, restoration time will fluctuate.”
Perth recorded 45mm of rain overnight, while more than 58mm of rain fell in Bickley.
In Exmouth, more than 90mm of rain fell overnight and at Pearce 39mm was recorded.
Wind gusts of up to 57km/h in Champion Lakes near Armadale and 37km/h at Perth airport caused trees and objects to blow.
The South West region was also hit by the wild weather, with wind gusts of 104km/h reported at Busselton Jetty.
Rain is forecast over the next few days and is expected to clear early next week.
Picture: Sallie, Nedlands
