Weather Warning

Thunderstorms to come


Article heading image for Weather Warning

Pixabay

Weather warning issued, take notice of advice:

 

Please note changes under ALERT LEVEL and WEATHER DETAILS sections

 

The following alert has been issued by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).


Time of issue: 11:38 AM
Date of issue: 24 May 2018


Take action with thunderstorms coming in parts of the Midwest-Gascoyne, Goldfields-Midlands, Perth Metropolitan, South West, Lower South West, Great Southern

If you live in Central West, Lower West, South West, South Coastal, Great Southern and parts of Central Wheat Belt districts you should take action and stay safe with thunderstorms to come.

Locations which may be affected include Albany, Bunbury, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Katanning, Mandurah, Manjimup, Margaret River, Merredin, Moora, Mount Barker, Narrogin, Northam and Perth.

This weather is not unusual for this time of year, but could damage homes and make travel dangerous.

WHAT TO DO:

DFES advises you to:

  • If outside find safe shelter away from trees, powerlines, storm water drains and streams.
  • Close your curtains and blinds, and stay inside away from windows.
  • Unplug electrical appliances and avoid using landline telephones if there is lightning.
  • If there is flooding, create your own sandbags by using pillow cases filled with sand and place them around doorways to protect your home.
  • If boating, swimming or surfing leave the water.

IF DRIVING:

  • Do not drive into water of unknown depth and current.
  • Slow down, turn your lights on and keep a safe distance from other drivers.
  • Be alert and watch for hazards on the road such as fallen powerlines and loose debris.
  • 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 be careful driving on gravel roads as surfaces will be slippery and muddy, and vehicles could become bogged.

People are being urged to do what they can to help themselves, if it is safe to do so, before calling the SES for assistance


WEATHER DETAILS:

At 24/05/2018 10:45:00 the Bureau of Meteorology advised There will be an abrupt change in the weather as a strong cold front moves over western and southern parts of WA from late Thursday afternoon through to Friday morning. A deep low will then approach the southwest corner during Friday. Damaging winds with gusts to 100 kilometres per hour which could result in damage to homes and property are likely near the Southwest Capes from about 5pm, extending to Shark Bay, the Perth Metropolitan area and Walpole around 8pm and to remaining parts of the warning area overnight. Dangerous gusts in excess of 125 kilometres per hour that could cause significant damage or destruction to homes and property are possible in coastal areas, particularly near the west coast between Jurien Bay and Walpole. Tides between Shark Bay and Walpole are likely to rise above the normal high tide mark with very rough seas and potential flooding of low-lying coastal areas, particularly in the Geographe Bay area Thursday evening and between Jurien Bay and Walpole Friday morning. Thunderstorms and heavy rainfall will also accompany the passage of the front. 24-hour rainfall totals to 9am Friday are expected to be between 20 and 40 millimetres with totals exceeding 50 millimetres in some areas. This front is expected to be the first strong cold front of season so far. People in the southwest of WA typically experience a front as windy as this about 5 times per year. It will also be the first significant rainfall for the Gascoyne region for many months.


ROAD CLOSURES AND CONDITIONS:

Some roads may be closed

Take extra care on the roads and do not drive into water of unknown depth and current.

Road information may also be available by calling Main Roads WA on 138 138 or visiting www.mainroads.wa.gov.au or your local Shire.

WHAT EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE DOING:

  • DFES is monitoring the situation.


IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE:

  • If your home has been badly damaged by a storm, call the SES on 132 500
  • In a life threatening situation call 000

After a storm SES volunteers make temporary repairs to homes that have been badly damaged, such as roofs that have been ripped off or large fallen trees on homes or cars. Please contact your insurance company to organise permanent repairs.

KEEP UP TO DATE:
Visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au, call 13 DFES (13 3337), follow DFES on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dfes_wa, Facebook: https://facebook.com/dfeswa/ or listen to news bulletins. 

Updates will be provided when the situation changes.

- Draker

24 May 2018




Listen Live!
Up Next