Gingin homes were devastated yesterday, as a tornado ripped through as part of the range of storm that hit the wider Perth area.
Just after 2pm a tornado ripped through properties along Orange Springs Road, causing serious damage to at least three.
“At about 10 past 2 in the afternoon a big wind like a tornado ripped through the driveway of our house,” resident Catherine Lee said.
Houses, crops and the processing building of an olive grove were seriously damaged.
Three people have been reported as being taken to hospital as a result of the storm in the north of Perth.
SES volunteers attended the scene and cleanup has begun.
“SES was saying it was a tornado,” Ms Lee said.
“Power-lines were down and poles broken…lots of damage.”
Ms Catherine estimated that damages to her property may have been in the area of $500,000, including damage to the roof and outlying buildings.
Her neighbours house was written off she said.
“Nobody was hurt thank goodness,” she said.
Gingin residents of Sovereign Hill, Redfield Park Estate were also warned to evacuate after lightning strikes started fires in Moore River National Park.
After the efforts of 60 fire-fighters and the rain dampening the fire, the alert level was downgraded by about 5pm.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has released a severe thunderstorm alert for the Gingin area today.
At 11.10am radar imagery showed a potentially severe thunderstorm developing southwest of Toodyay and moving to the south-south east.
The Bureau of Meteorology advised there was a risk of severe thunderstorms developing late morning and continuing into this evening.
Storms may be accompanied by dangerous winds, large hail and heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding and could cause significant damage to homes and property.