The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a warning to residents across the South Western corner of the state with the first significant cold front of the season expected to cross the coast on Thursday afternoon.
A strong cold front will affect western and southern parts of WA from 5pm Thursday through to Friday morning.
Warm, fresh to strong and gusty northerly winds are expected ahead of the cold front while showers and squally thunderstorms are expected with the passage of the cold front and for the several hours after.
The leading edge of the cold front will move east to lie near the southwest Capes at around 5pm Thursday, reaching Kalbarri to Perth to Walpole at around 8pm and Murchison to Cunderdin to Albany around 11pm Thursday night.
Damaging winds with gusts to 100 kilometres per hour are likely over the warning area, particularly during the onset of the showers and thunderstorms as the leading edge of the front passes through.
Dangerous gusts in excess of 125 kilometres per hour that could cause significant damage or destruction to homes and property are possible in exposed coastal areas, and are most likely with the onset of the showers and thunderstorms.
Higher than normal tides may cause flooding of low lying coastal areas near the west coast south of Kalbarri and particularly in the Geographe Bay area, including Busselton and Dunsborough.
Locations which may be affected include Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Denham, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Katanning, Mandurah, Manjimup, Margaret River, Merredin, Moora, Mount Barker, Narrogin, Northam and Perth.
People in the southwest of WA typically experience a front as windy as this about 5 times per year.
It will be the first significant cold front of the 2018 Autumn/Winter period and a change from the dry Autumn over the South West of WA. It will also be the first significant rainfall for the Gascoyne region for many months.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services advises that people should:
- If outside find safe shelter away from trees, power lines, storm water drains and streams.
- Close your curtains and blinds, and stay inside away from windows.
- Unplug electrical appliances and do not use land line telephones if there is lightning.
- If boating, swimming or surfing leave the water.
- Be alert and watch for hazards on the road such as fallen power lines and loose debris.
- Keep away from flooded drains, rivers, streams and waterways.
- Be careful of fallen trees, damaged buildings and debris.
- Be careful of fallen power lines. They are dangerous and should always be treated as live.
- Assess your home, car and property for damage.
- If damage has occurred take photos and contact your insurance company to organise permanent repairs.
- If your home or property has significant damage, like a badly damaged roof or flooding, call the SES on 132 500.
