DFES is warning residents to take action with severe weather approaching parts of the Perth metropolitan, South West, Lower South West and Great Southern areas.
If you live in the South West, South Coastal and parts of the Lower West and Great Southern districts you should take action and stay safe with severe weather to come.
Locations which may be affected include Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Mandurah, Manjimup, Margaret River and Mount Barker.
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 12.30pm the Bureau of Meteorology advised a cold front will move over the southwest of the State during Saturday evening and early Sunday morning.
Thunderstorms and showers associated with the front may produce damaging winds to 100 kilometres per hour and could cause damage to homes and property.
Damaging winds are possible near the Southwest Capes from around 9pm Saturday evening as the cold front moves through, extending to the remainder of the warning area overnight. Conditions will ease during Sunday morning.
Road closures and conditions
Roads have not been closed.
Take extra care on the roads including switching your headlights on, ensuring safe braking distance and allowing extra travel time.
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.
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
Go to 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 or listen to news bulletins.
