22/05/2020
Storm - Prepare - the Gascoyne, Central West, Lower West, South West, South Coastal, Great Southern, Central Wheat Belt and parts of Pilbara, Goldfields and South East Coastal districts.
The following alert has been issued by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).
This is a new alert
Time of issue: 03:48 PM
Date of issue: 22 May 2020
Prepare now for severe weather in parts of Pilbara, Midwest-Gascoyne, Goldfields-Midlands, Perth Metropolitan, Great Southern, South West, Lower South West
If you live in the Gascoyne, Central West, Lower West, South West, South Coastal, Great Southern, Central Wheat Belt and parts of Pilbara, Goldfields and South East Coastal districts. you need to get ready now for the severe weather coming Sunday morning.
Locations which may be affected include Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Carnarvon, Denham, Esperance, Exmouth, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Kalgoorlie, Katanning, Mandurah, Manjimup, Margaret River, Meekatharra, Merredin, Moora, Mount Barker, Mount Magnet, Narrogin, Norseman, Northam, Onslow and Perth.
WHAT TO DO:
DFES advises you to:
Trim branches around your home to prevent them falling on your roof or car.
Clear gutters and downpipes so they do not overflow after heavy rain.
Store or weigh down loose objects around your home or work like outdoor furniture that could be picked up and thrown by strong winds, causing damage or injury.
Prepare an emergency kit with a battery operated radio, torch, spare batteries and first aid kit.
Organise an emergency plan, including a plan to evacuate for your family and pets in case your home becomes flooded.
WEATHER DETAILS:
At 22/05/2020 15:16:00 the Bureau of Meteorology advised a tropical system will combine with a cold front to produce one or two deep low pressure systems which will impact western parts of WA. Widespread severe weather is expected from Sunday morning. Dangerous weather may occur in some parts, particularly in the vicinity of the lows. WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS, averaging 60 to 70 kilometres per hour with peak gusts to around 100 kilometres per hour are likely and could cause DAMAGE TO HOMES AND PROPERTY. DAMAGING WINDS are forecast to develop in coastal areas between Onslow and Kalbarri, including Exmouth, Carnarvon and Denham, from early Sunday morning. DAMAGING WINDS will extend to southwest of a line from Onslow to Meekatharra to Kalgoorlie to Esperance, including Geraldton, the Perth Metropolitan area, Mandurah, Bunbury, Busselton and Albany during Sunday afternoon and evening. Locally DANGEROUS WINDS, averaging 80 to 90 kilometres per hour with peak gusts of around 130 kilometres per hour are possible near the low pressure systems during Sunday afternoon and overnight. DANGEROUS WINDS could cause SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OR DESTRUCTION TO HOMES AND PROPERTY. Further details on the areas under threat of DANGEROUS WINDS will be provided on Saturday or Sunday. HEAVY RAINFALL that may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible northwest of a line from Kalbarri to Onslow during Sunday with isolated rainfall totals to around 100 millimetres. HEAVY RAINFALL may also occur southwest of a line from Kalbarri to Albany from Sunday afternoon with isolated rainfall totals to around 70 millimetres. Residents in coastal areas between Exmouth and Augusta are specifically warned of the POTENTIAL OF A DANGEROUS STORM TIDE. Tides are likely to rise SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE THE NORMAL HIGH TIDE MARK with DAMAGING WAVES and DANGEROUS FLOODING. DAMAGING SURF CONDITIONS are likely which could cause SIGNIFICANT BEACH EROSION.
ROAD CLOSURES AND CONDITIONS:
Roads have not been closed.
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 or by contacting your Local Government.
WHAT EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE DOING:
DFES is monitoring the situation.
State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers respond on a priority basis and people are asked to remain patient.
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 news bulletins.
During a power outage, your home phone, computer or other electronic devices connected to the NBN will not work. Include a battery powered radio in your emergency kit.
Updates will be provided when the situation changes.
Emergency WA is the State's official website for community warnings and other emergency management information for bushfires, storms, cyclones, floods, prescribed burns, hazardous material incidents and more. Important Preparation, Prevention, Response and Recovery information is all found here.
