Perth storm: Power outages impact thousands as ‘very dangerous thunderstorm’ smashes WA
![Danny Paul's Incredible shot of lightning hitting the Rio Tinto building on Saturday night.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/C-14876060/02df048ac718376be8bf64580cc25e8c47548bbe-16x9-x6y0w1271h715.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
More than 10,000 homes across the State were without power on Saturday night as a ‘very dangerous thunderstorm’ smashed Perth.
Western Power reported 28 outages about 11pm, with five impacting more than 1000 customers.
Residents in Wellard, Orelia, Kwinana Town Centre, Casuarina, Bertram, Hope Valley, Anketell, Calista, Baldivis, Medina and The Spectacles were affected the worst.
The outages followed a severe weather warning issued by the Bureau of Meteorology as a thunderstorm “likely to produce intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding, damaging winds and large hailstones” approached the metro area.
Emergency WA also issued an alert urging people to take action immediately to stay safe.
“If you live in Lower West and parts of the Central West, South West and Great Southern districts you should take action and stay safe with very dangerous severe thunderstorms to come.”
A number of properties in the Bunbury area were badly damaged, with some residents saying it appeared another tornado had ripped through the region.
![Danny Paul's Incredible shot of lightning hitting the Rio Tinto building on Saturday night.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/C-14876060/02df048ac718376be8bf64580cc25e8c47548bbe.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
Kwinana was also impacted by the storm, with Main Roads confirming traffic lights at multiple intersections were blacked out, urging motorists to drive cautiously.
According to Flight Radar, the wild weather caused issues for planes landing in Perth, with at least two flights diverted before midnight.
A Jetstar flight from Cairns was diverted to Kalgoorlie-Boulder Airport at 11.36pm, while a flight departing Kalgoorlie Airport was forced to turn back before reaching Perth Airport.
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![BOM warning](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/C-14876060/c9f6dca2ae29d10ad7b6c2f31cb779cc856a0c11.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
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