Thunderstorms are expected Bunbury, Collie, Mandurah, Dwellingup, Harvey and Pinjarra today.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the South West and Lower South West.
If you live in Lower South West and South West districts you should take action and stay safe with thunderstorms to come.
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.
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 26/02/2020 13:15:00 the Bureau of Meteorology advised a trough extends down the west coast with a moist, unstable air mass in place to the east of the trough.Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and large hailstones in the warning area over the next few hours.
ROAD CLOSURES AND CONDITIONS:
Take extra care on the roads and do not drive into water of unknown depth and current.
Road information may also be available from Main Roads WA by calling 138 138 or visiting travelmap.mainroads.wa.gov.au.
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/, listen to ABC Local Radio or listen to news bulletins.
Updates will be provided when the situation changes.
