South West residents are waking up to assess the damage after a severe storm lashed the region overnight.
The storm has been hailed as a rare event which will produce the kind of weather that is only seen "once or twice a year" according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Wind gusts of up to 109km per hour were recorded overnight with the wet and wild weather expected to hang around until tomorrow.
The State Emergency Service has answered more than 40 calls for assistance since 5pm yesterday and about 2300 homes are without power in the South West.
Got a storm pic? Send it to lgallo@fairfaxmedia.com.au and we will add it to our online weather gallery
Yesterday's wet and windy conditions brought 25.8mm and gusts of up to 85km per hour to the area.
The rainfall brought May’s total to 51.8mm; already surpassing April’s total rainfall.
10.58am Esperance was another town which managed to escape the full brunt of the storm - read about it here.
It is still bucketing down in Bunbury.
9.35am Busselton dodged the storm - read about it here.
8.12am Here is the latest rainfall information - a fair chunk of the WA was drenched overnight with Aston Downs recording more than 100mm of rainfall over the past 24 hours.
7.51am Here are some handy contacts if you have been affected by the storm.If your home has been badly damaged by storm call the SES on 132 500
In a life threatening situation call 000.
For the latest weather information visit BoMor call 1300 659 213.
For information about road conditions contact Main Roads WA on 138 138.
To report downed powerlines call Western Power on 13 13 51.
7.28am DFES’s State Emergency Service has answered more than 40 calls for help since 5pm yesterday after the cold front hit Perth and the South West. Meanwhile Western Power has advised at 5am today there were about 4000 customers without power following the storms. The South West was most affected with 1500 people without power in Manjimup and 800 people in Pemberton.
7.18am BoM has released the following information - wind gusts of 109 kilometres per hour have been reported at Cape Leeuwin at 9pm Wednesday night.
Wind gusts of 98 kilometres per hour have been reported at Cape Naturaliste at 9pm Wednesday night.
Wind gusts of 87 kilometres per hour have been reported at Pearce at 9.52pm Wednesday night.
Thursday 7.05am After a wet and windy night it is a rather chilly morning in Bunbury and the storm appears to have been relatively calm.
BoM has issued a weather warning this morning at 3am for people in, near or between the following towns: the Perth metropolitan area, Mandurah, York, Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River, Bridgetown, Narrogin, Katanning, Albany and Esperance.
According to BoM a deep low will pass to the south of the state and continue to weaken during the morning.
Early Thursday morning the passage of the low is likely to cause damaging winds to 100 kilometres per hour that could result in damage to homes and property throughout the area. In isolated areas south of a line Busselton to Katanning to Bremer Bay dangerous gusts in excess of 125 kilometres per hour could cause significant damage or destruction to homes and property.
8.37pm BoM climate services officer John Relf has just tweeted the wettest areasover the past 24 hours with the South West taking up most of the top 15. A whopping 100mm has been recorded at Aston Downs while the Busselton Airport has recorded 57.2mm.
8.05pm Wind gusts of up to 70km per hour are being recorded down in Busselton while the rain has started again in Bunbury. Residents should keep the torches and candles handy in case the power goes out. A block of chocolate wouldn't hurt either.
7.45pm According to Weatherzone the wild weather will continue to lash the South West until Friday where heavy swells of up to seven metres and wind gusts exceeding 100 kilometres per hour will affect areas south of Bunbury tomorrow.
There are also reports the weather has brought down a power pole in Vivaldi Drive in Mandurah with its lines strewn across the footpath.
6.06pm Further to the rumours of a tornado near Busselton we would just like to clarify there was no evidence of one occurring however officials have not been able to confirm there was no tornado.
4.10pm The Department of Fire and Emergency Services urges people to take extra care on the roads when driving this evening and tomorrow morning due to the heavy rain and strong winds expected that could make driving conditions dangerous.
DFES's tips for motorists are as follows.
• Slow down, turn your lights on and keep a safe distance from other drivers.
• If it is raining heavily and you cannot see, pull over and park with your hazard lights on until the rain clears
• Take care in areas that have been flooded and do not drive into water of unknown depth and current
• Be careful on gravel roads as surfaces will be slippery and muddy, and vehicles could become bogged.
3.52pm The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has warned people who live south west of a line from Lancelin to York to Hopetoun that they should take action to stay safe with dangerous weather.
This includes people in, near and between Busselton, Bunbury, Mandurah, the Perth metropolitan area, Albany, Bridgetown, Margaret River, Narrogin, Katanning and York and surrounding areas.
3.28pm We have confirmation that there was no tornado in or near Busselton earlier this afternoon - just a thunderstorm. Conditions are relatively calm. Police, SES and the shire all say they have no knowledge of a tornado hitting the area.
3.21pm The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a revised weather warning - For the remainder of Wednesday and early Thursday morning the passage of the low is likely to cause damaging winds to 100 kilometres per hour that could result in damage to homes and property throughout the warning area.
In isolated areas west of a line Lancelin to York to Windy Harbour during the remainder of Wednesday, and then contracting to areas south of a line Busselton to Katanning to Bremer Bay early Thursday morning dangerous gusts in excess of 125 kilometres per hour could cause significant damage or destruction to homes and property.
Abnormally high tides which may cause sea water flooding of low lying areas and very heavy surf which may lead to localised damage and coastal erosion are forecast for parts of the Lower West and South West forecast districts. Beach conditions in these areas could be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf exposed areas.
3.18pm Warren Harvey in Esperance has posted: "Tie your Trampoline down peeps, coz mine was hanging from a fence." See photo gallery above for his pic.
3.10pm Meanwhile our reporters in Collie have said the sun is still shining with no sign of a storm.
2.58pm A post on Facebook has suggested there has been a tornado near Busselton. Our reporters in Busselton are following it up with BoM.
2.49pm A loud clap of thunder has just been heard over Bunbury and it is still rather windy outside.
2.36pm Richard - one our readers - has sent in a couple of photos of a double rainbow which occurred over the vineyards at the Evans and Tate Cellar Door in Margaret River. He described it as a "magic moment today with a break in the weather offering us a bit of delight at work. Twice."
2.10pm Do you have any news or photos of the storm? Send them to Digital Editor Lee-Maree Gallo at lgallo@fairfaxmedia.com.au to publish in our online storm photo gallery.
1.10pm Busselton is in the middle of a downpour at the moment with more flooding being reported. The carpark of the popular Goose Cafe is underwater.
1.03pm Esperance residents have been warned that showers and thunderstorms are likely to be more intense than usual and dangerous conditions may occur in some parts without warning according to DFES.
Meanwhile in Cowaramup it has reportedly been raining for most of the day however winds are yet to pick up in the area.
12.45pm The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has released a new weather warning stating coastal suburbs have been the most affected by the storm. DFES is urging people to do what they can to help themselves, if it is safe to do so, before calling the SES for assistance.
"If you live south west of a line from Perth to York to Israelite Bay you should take action and stay safe with more bad weather to come.
This includes people in, near and between Augusta, Busselton, Bunbury, Mandurah, the Perth metropolitan area, Albany, Bridgetown, Margaret River, Narrogin, Katanning and Esperance and surrounding areas."
12.33pm WA Police have reminded drivers to heed caution when driving in the wild weather.
12.22pm Residents in Busselton have reported flooding along the foreshore while in Bunbury it has been steadily raining for the past hour or so. Winds have also picked up.
