However Bureau of Meteorology forecasters said the storm has still been packing winds of up to 100 kilometres per hour.
"People in its path need to be aware that the storm is coming and that it is causing widespread flooding," said the bureau's Paul Viviers.
The first emergency crews arrived in the affected region to assess the damage earlier on Tuesday.
Overnight, Cyclone Clare had crossed the coast south west of Dampier, with destructive winds of up to 195 kph pounding the small mining town.
More than 1,500 people were evacuated from low-lying areas along the state's north-west coast, with the nearby communities of Karratha, Roebourne, Wickham, Point Samson, Whim Creek, Nanutarra and Panamanian placed on red alert.
No injuries were reported, however authorities say they do not know when power and phones will be back on.
The SES has warned of flash flooding and urged motorists to seek advice about road closures.
Western Australia emergency services spokesman Alan Gale said the first crews had arrived in Karratha, and were working to restore communications with both phone and power lines down.
Water damage was limited, Mr Gale said, with lower-than-forecast storm surges.
"The homes that are built on the lower contours weren't impacted because the water never actually got up to the height where homes are," he said.
"The wind damage we're still assessing that...there's nothing obvious that we're aware of at this point in time. (There's) lots of vegetation damage, lots of leaves and branches on the roads."
"There's an indication that power lines will be down as well," Mr Gale said.
Rescue workers were yet to reach Dampier, which bore the brunt of 200 kilometres an hour winds at the height of the cyclone, he said.
Clare has forced the closure of shipping ports, Karratha airport and some mining operations.
Dampier port harbour master Vic Justice said the harbour had been cleared of boats but the port would be back in operation by the end of the week. Karratha's port had also been shut.
The Pilbara region is home to offshore oil and gas operations and mining operations, including iron ore, salt and nickel operations.
A spokeswoman for mining company BHP Billiton, Samantha Evans, said the company's iron ore and mining operations were proceeding as usual but shipments could not get out.