Mandurah residents have been urged to be careful on the roads and prepare their homes with authorities warning severe thunderstorms are on the way.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) issued the warning at 5.50am this morning, for parts of the Perth Metropolitan, Midwest-Gascoyne, Goldfields-Midlands, Great Southern, South West, Lower South West.
DFES have said severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours.
Locations which may be affected include Mandurah, Katanning, Narrogin, Northam, the Perth Metropolitan area and Yanchep.
This weather is not unusual for this time of year, but could damage homes and make travel dangerous.
What to do:
- 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.
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
