Widespread winds are expected to continue in Bunbury and surrounds, with a second cold front due to pass through on Friday morning.
The South West is already on a severe weather warning, with residents urged to take caution in high winds.
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 11am Thursday the Bureau of Meteorology advised a strong, fast moving cold front is moving across western parts of the South West Land Division and will extend east during the remainder of Thursday before conditions ease.
A second strong cold front is likely to affect the southwest of WA from early Friday morning.
Showers and isolated thunderstorms may produce damaging winds with gusts to 100 kilometres per hour and could cause damage to homes and property in the warning area until early Friday evening.
Damaging winds are likely over western parts of the warning area, extending to eastern parts during Thursday afternoon.
Conditions will ease over western parts of the warning area from mid to late Thursday afternoon and over the remainder of the warning area by early Thursday evening.
A second strong cold front will affect the southwest of WA during Friday, bringing possible damaging winds with gusts to 100 kilometres per hour over early Friday morning about Cape Leeuwin, extending to southwest of a line Perth to Bremer Bay by sunrise Friday and over much of the remaining South West land division by early afternoon.
Damaging winds with gusts to 100 kilometres per hour are also possible from mid Friday morning over the eastern Gascoyne, the Goldields and eastern parts of the South West land division and the western Eucla well ahead of the second strong cold front.
A severe weather warning for this second strong cold front is likely to be issued during Thursday afternoon.
The following wind gusts have been recorded:94 km/h at Busselton Jetty at 10:28 am.93 km/h at Cape Leeuwin at 6:25 am.93 km/h at Dardanup at 10:24am.85 km/h at Cape Naturaliste at 6:32am.83 km/h at Rottnest Island at 9:47am.
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 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