Tornado uproots trees, damages homes across Perth

Trees were ripped from the ground and flash flooding and hail wreaked havoc overnight as a severe weather system tore through Perth.

The Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed video footage taken by community members revealed a “low intensity” tornado likely hit about 5.25pm at City Beach.

The coastal suburb was one of the worst impacted areas, with 9News Perth reporting a multimillion-dollar home had its roof completely ripped off while another’s garage caved in.

The Town of Cambridge confirmed several properties were significantly damaged, including on Kalari Drive, Lantara Street, and Marapana Drive in City Beach.

Town staff and contractor crews worked overnight to support DFES and SES crews in making the area safe.

Additional work to address damage and clear debris will continue on Thursday.

Cambridge Mayor Gary Mack said his thoughts were with the residents who experienced serious property damage, and in some cases, had to leave their homes on Wednesday night.

“We understand this is distressing and while the full extent of the storm damage is still being assessed, we are committed to supporting our community through the recovery process,” he said.

Resident Zarin Milambo said she came outside and saw the damage and “pieces of the roof on the floor”.

A home in City Beach, along Kalari Drive, where the roof has been severely damaged.Credit: Night News

“All our fences are down so it was pretty scary,” she said.

“It’s pretty disappointing, we’ve just gone through a lot and we just know it’s going to be months and months of repairs.”

Department of Fire and Emergency Services said they had responded to 105 calls in the past 24 hours for assistance – mostly for roof damage, flooding, water ingress and fallen trees.

The damage was widespread, from Baldivis to Hocking and Lesmurdie, with the worst-affected suburbs including Victoria Park, Forrestfield and Queens Park, as well as City Beach.

BoM senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said there had been heavy rainfall associated with this front as it moved through the Perth metropolitan area, including 71 millimetres in South Perth until 6am this morning.

“We’re heading for a top of 14 degrees or so in the Perth area, but combining with those cool southerly winds behind the front, ongoing showers and the chance of small hail, it is likely to feel quite a few degrees lower than that forecast top,” she said.

Wet and windy conditions will continue across southern and western parts of the state on Thursday, as a rain band moves into eastern WA and then into South Australia.

Conditions will ease from Friday as a high-pressure system moves in for the weekend, bringing cold, frosty mornings but mostly sunny days.

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