Take action: Severe weather heading to Lower South West

By Deputy Chief EditorJune 6, 2019

144 4 minutes read

If you live in parts of the South West district you should take action and stay safe with severe weather to come. At 10.59 on Thursday, June 6 2019 the Bureau of Meteorology advised a vigorous cold front is approaching the southwest of the State, arriving at the Capes around midnight Thursday night and extend east across the South West Land Division during Friday. Strong northerly winds are expected ahead of the front, easing after the front moves through. Locations which may be affected include Bunbury, Busselton and Margaret River. This weather is not unusual for this time of year, but could damage homes and make travel dangerous. 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. 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. 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 At 10.59 on Thursday, June 6 2019 the Bureau of Meteorology advised a vigorous cold front is approaching the southwest of the State, arriving at the Capes around midnight Thursday night and extend east across the South West Land Division during Friday. Strong northerly winds are expected ahead of the front, easing after the front moves through. Northerly winds ahead of the approaching cold front are currently reaching 50 to 60 kilometres per hour over the South West District, with DAMAGING GUSTS to 100 kilometres per hour at times possible about coastal parts between Bunbury and Cape Leeuwin. Winds are expected to ease by early Friday morning as the front begins to move inland. DAMAGING SURF conditions are possible which could cause BEACH EROSION between Bunbury and Cape Leeuwin. Tides between Geraldton and Albany are expected to remain higher than normal this evening and on Friday morning, but they are no longer expected to exceed the normal high tide mark. Heavy rainfall is expected with the passage of the front overnight Thursday and continuing into Friday. Falls between 30 and 50 millimetres along the west coast with isolated heavier falls possible extending up the west coast to Carnarvon. This front is the first in a series of significant fronts expected to affect the southwest of the State and brings to an end an extended dry period through much of the South West Land Division. Further fronts are expected over the weekend and into early next week. The winds ahead of this front are expected to be windier than a typical front. The fronts on Saturday and Sunday are also expected to be windier than a typical front and it is likely that Severe Weather Warnings will be issued for these events. 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. 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. 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.

Take action: Severe weather heading to Lower South West

If you live in parts of the South West district you should take action and stay safe with severe weather to come.

At 10.59 on Thursday, June 6 2019 the Bureau of Meteorology advised a vigorous cold front is approaching the southwest of the State, arriving at the Capes around midnight Thursday night and extend east across the South West Land Division during Friday.

Strong northerly winds are expected ahead of the front, easing after the front moves through.

Locations which may be affected include Bunbury, Busselton and Margaret River.

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.

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.

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