State Emergency Services (SES) have responded to hundreds of calls for help across WA after dangerous weather lashed the coast overnight.
A severe weather warning is still in place from Perth to Albany, including Mandurah, with strong winds and heavy rainfall expected for the rest of Monday.
Since Sunday morning, the SES has answered almost 400 calls for help with a majority of the damage reported in the Perth metropolitan region.
Up to 50,000 properties experienced power outages on Sunday night, including about 37,000 homes in the metropolitan area.
On Monday morning, Mandurah was relatively unaffected with about 100 homes in Halls Head without electricity and a further 400 homes in the Jarrahdale/Keysbrook area.
A deep low-pressure system is predicted to continue passing to the southwest of WA on Monday morning bringing with it widespread damaging winds with peak gusts of around 100 kilometres per hour.
Locally dangerous winds with peak gusts of 130 kilometres per hour are expected to ease by the early afternoon.
These winds could cause significant damage or destruction to homes and property.
The Bureau of Meteorology also predicts moderate to heavy rainfall along the coast from Lancelin to Walpole with isolated rainfall totals to around 60 millimetres.
These should ease during the day.
A potentially dangerous storm tide bringing high tides, damaging waves and dangerous surf conditions could continue into Tuesday.
This is a rare weather event for WA, particularly due to the extent of the area affected and the possibility of multiple areas of dangerous weather that could cause damage to homes and make travel dangerous.
DFES is monitoring the situation and updates will be provided when the situation changes.
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 you know your home is susceptible to flooding, prepare now by creating 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
- Do not drive into water of unknown depth and current
- If you are driving, slow down, turn your lights on and keep a safe distance from other drivers
- If you are driving, 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 while driving, pull over and park with your hazard lights on until the rain clears
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 3337, follow DFES on Twitter or Facebook or listen to news updates.
