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Camera IconPerth has been absolutely smashed overnight as a severe thunderstorm with wind gusts up to at least 100kph left devastating damage in its wake — uprooting trees, knocking fences down and shutting power to at least 30,000 homes statewide. Credit: The West Australian

Perth weather: Aftermath of severe thunderstorm that smashed WA with powerful winds

Jonathon NolanThe West Australian

The clean up has begun after WA was smashed by severe thunderstorms overnight, with wind gusts reaching 140km/h uprooting trees, flattening fences, and cutting power to at least 30,000 homes.

People woke to scenes of destruction after the powerful winds whipped their way along the coast.

On Thursday morning, more than 3000 homes across the State remained without power, with some residents in Hillarys, Palmyra and Kingsley likely to be affected until 2pm.

The cold front crossed the Greater Perth area on Wednesday evening along the coast from Lancelin to the South West.

A house lost its roof in Lancelin, where wind gusts reached up to 126km/h, and there were also reports of damage in Cottesloe, City Beach, Fremantle and Beldon. At Cottesloe Primary School a heritage-listed building was destroyed.

Lancelin’s Mik Gatto said firefighters and police were scrambling to respond to many reports of damage.

“We were driving in it. It was pretty full-on,” he said.

“There are trees down, fences down and power lines all around town. A roof has blown off at least one house too.”

At 10pm on Wednesday, nearly 7000 homes in Yanchep, Two Rocks and Eglinton were without power as were almost 8000 in Kingsley, Padbury, Duncraig, Mullaloo, Kallaroo and Hillarys.

Power outages also hit 5270 homes in Fremantle but this was restored just before 9pm.

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An uprooted tree destroyed a fence in Cottesloe. Picture: The West Australian

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An uprooted tree destroyed a fence in Cottesloe. Picture: The West Australian

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A trampoline strapped to a streetlight to keep it from blowing away. Picture: The West Australian

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Police alerting motorists to a tree strewn across a road. Picture: The West Australian

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Damaging winds uproot a tree. Picture: The West Australian

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Another tree uprooted by the severe thunderstorm. Picture: The West Australian