Category: Storm
Alert Summary: Take action with severe weather coming in parts of the Midwest-Gascoyne, Perth Metropolitan, South West, Lower South West, Great Southern
Content:
Please note changes throughout the alert
The following alert has been issued by the Department of Fire and
Emergency Services (DFES).
Time of issue: 11:45 AM
Date of issue: 02 July 2018
Take action with severe weather coming in parts of the Midwest-Gascoyne, Perth Metropolitan, South West, Lower South West, Great Southern
If you live in the Lower West, South West and parts of Central West and South Coastal districts you should take action and stay safe with severe weather to come.
Locations which may be affected include Bunbury, Busselton, Geraldton, Mandurah, Manjimup, Moora, Perth, Lancelin, Walpole and Yanchep.
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
Cancellation of severe weather warning for parts of the Lower South West
As at 02/07/2018 11:00:00 the Bureau of Meteorology advises the severe weather warning for areas southwest of a line from Cape Naturaliste to Walpole has been cancelled.
Areas southwest of a line from Cape Naturaliste to Walpole are no longer experiencing severe weather for the remainder of Monday.
WHAT TO DO:
Now the severe weather has passed, DFES advises you to:
- Keep away from flooded drains, rivers,streams and waterways.
- Be careful of fallen trees, damaged buildings and debris.
- Keep clear of fallen powerlines, they are dangerous and should always be treated as live.
- Assess your home, car and property for damage.
- Check to see if your neighbour needs help.
- If damage has occurred, take photos and contact your insurance company to organise permanent repairs.
- If your home has significant damage, like a badly damaged roof or flooding, call the SES on 132 500.
WEATHER DETAILS:
At 02/07/2018 11:00:00 the Bureau of Meteorology advised a rain band and cold front are currently moving through southwest WA. The system is bringing heavy rainfall and abnormally high tides. Conditions will ease over southern parts during Monday afternoon and early evening and northern parts overnight Monday. Heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding is currently occurring southwest of a line from Mandurah to Albany. Heavy rainfall will then extend as far north as the Perth area around midday Monday, and through the remainder of the warning area by 5pm Monday. Rain should start to ease over southern parts of the warning area Monday afternoon and early evening and over northern parts overnight Monday. Tides between Shark Bay and Cape Leeuwin are likely to rise above the normal high tide mark with very rough seas and potential flooding of low-lying coastal areas around the time of high tide until Monday afternoon, particularly within Geographe Bay. This is typical weather for this time of the year but heavy rain may cause damage to property and make road conditions hazardous. The threat of damaging winds over the South West has eased, however winds are expected to increase again southwest of a line from Bunbury to Albany from early Tuesday morning. A wind gust to 130 kilometres per hour was recorded at Cape Leeuwin at 5.03am Monday morning. Heavy rainfall has been observed at Willmots Farm with 54.8mm recorded between 5:00am and 8:00am. A second cold front and associated low are expected to affect southern and southwest parts of WA over the coming days with the potential for further severe weather on Tuesday morning and during Wednesday.
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 by contacting your local Shire.
WHAT EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE DOING:
- DFES is monitoring the situation.
- Emergency services have answered more than 15 calls for help since 11:30am yestday .
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/, listen to ABC Local Radio, 6PR, or listen to news bulletins.
Updates will be provided when the situation changes.
END
