Perth is cleaning up and counting the cost after days of wild storms left homes damaged.
Although conditions eased overnight, emergency services responded to more than 102 calls for help since 5am yesterday.
Millions of dollars in insurance claims have already been lodged after the storms wreaked havoc from Butler to Mandurah and south-west from Monday to Wednesday. Insurer RAC says it has received about $5 million in damage claims.
The super storms that battered WA for days were accompanied by destructive gale-force winds, with the worst being recorded in the early hours of Tuesday. Cape Leeuwin recorded a gust of 135 km/ha at 12:47, Bickley 117 km/ha at 2:47, Cape Naturaliste 115 km/ha at 18:47, Mandurah 109 km/ha at 2:59, l Gingin Airport 109 km/ha at 2:11.
Camera icon Storm conditions in North Beach. Credit: Michael Wilson/The West Australian
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In good news, most power has been restored to homes and businesses that were left in the dark after trees downed several power lines. At the height of the chaos, 35,000 homes were without power, but Western Power crews worked through the night to get the lights back on.
About 700 properties were still without power Thursday morning: 360 in the metro area and 270 in the Southwest and Big South and 75 in the Midwest and Wheat Belt.
Although more hazards and failures were reported overnight, damage to infrastructure related to the storm was less than that experienced in recent days.
Camera icon A large tree fell on Melville Parade in Como, blocking traffic. Credit: Paul Entwistle/Twitter
A Western Power spokesman said crews would continue to work in the difficult conditions to restore power as safely and quickly as possible.
“There may be some homes and businesses experiencing extended disruption due to the severe weather conditions forecast for today,” they said.
“As this is a prolonged weather event, fatigue management for our crews is also a priority.”
Overnight Pearce got through the worst of the rain, recording 30mm in the 24 hours to 8am, Swanbourne also received a good soak with 27mm, followed by Perth with 25mm and Millendon in the Swan Valley with 24mm
A damaging wind warning is in place for Eucla and parts of the Goldfields and South East Coast districts. Locals are being urged to take measures to stay safe, with wind gusts expected to exceed 90km/h in some areas.
Locations that may be affected include Esperance, Eucla, Eyre, Forrest, Israelite Bay and Rawlinna.
FORECAST FOR SEVEN DAYS
- Thursday: 17C, showers 6-10mm
- Friday: 7C-16C, shower or two 0-1mm
- Saturday: 8-17C, showers increasing 2-4mm
- Sunday: 10-19C, showers 5-10mm
- Monday: 10-17C, showers 5-10mm
- Tuesday: 7-16C, sprinkle or two 0-1mm
- Wednesday: 5-18C, mostly sunny