Traffic fears after worst storm in 50 years batters Perth

PERTH was plunged into chaos last night as wild thunderstorms ripped through the city with a ferocity not seen in decades.

Motorists have been warned to take care with more than 80 traffic lights still out of action after last night's wild storms and more bad weather on the way.

Western Australian Police will be focusing on controlling traffic at major intersections where traffic lights are not working, including parts of Albany Hwy, Reid Hwy, Orrong Rd, Wanneroo Rd, Roe Hwy, Scarborough Beach Rd and Leach Hwy.

A landslide has closed the eastbound lane of Mounts Bay Rd between Winthrop Ave and Mitchell Freeway and people trying to access the Mount Hospital are advised to travel there via Thomas Rd and Kings Park Rd.

The storm that swept Perth yesterday afternoon has caused millions of dollars worth of damage, and more than 90,000 homes are still without power.

Power companies were scrambling to restore power, but said it could be days before some homes had electricity after extensive damage to their networks.

More storms are forecast today, but they are not expected to match the ferocity of the one that lashed the city yesterday.

One of the city's longest dry spells ended dramatically as torrential rain and large hailstones caused flash flooding, structural damage to houses, schools and hospitals, and cut power to tens of thousands of homes.

Parts of the city were brought to a standstill, rail services were halted and at one stage all out-bound flights from Perth Airport were stopped when part of the ceiling collapsed under the weight of the deluge.

At least seven schools were also closed including Ocean Reef High School, Shenton College, Mindarie Senior College, Duncraig Senior High School, Tuart College, Heathridge Primary School and Perth Modern junior school.

The wild storm hit the city after 4pm local time with hailstones the size of golf balls caving-in roofs and damaging hundreds of cars.

Were you in Perth when the storm hit?

Thornlie "tree man" Richard Pennicuik claims he was struck by lightning during the violent storm - but even that wasn't enough to bring him down from the tree he has been trying to save for 105 days.

Mr Pennicuik, 57, told PerthNow his metal harness was hit by lightning, "which sent bolts through me".

Read more on Pennicuik's harrowing ordeal here.

The state's power utility, Western Power, said it could not guarantee electricity would be restored within 24-36 hours.

There were hundreds of reports across the city of power lines down, structural damage to houses and schools, and of roofs being ripped from newly built homes.

Landslip

Late last night three major Perth hospitals cancelled elective surgery for 24 hours because of roof damage. At Joondalup Hospital about 20 people were evacuated from the emergency room after part of the ceiling collapsed.

At least three high schools reported they would be closed today because of storm damage. Across the city power lines and trees were brought down, windows smashed and roads flooded.

Police said a landslip at the edge of King's Park near Perth's city centre crushed two parked cars and filled one apartment with mud, but there were no reports of people hurt.

Last night as Perth residents assessed the damage warnings were issued of further storms.

Murky conditions made driving dangerous and 150 sets of traffic lights were knocked out.