Damaging winds, heavy rainfall, possible flash flooding in Mandurah, Dawesville, Ravenswood and Falcon

Storm advice has been issued for parts of Perth as people are being urged to prepare for damaging winds, heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding.

At 8.45pm on Wednesday, the Bureau of Meteorology detected a severe thunderstorm that may lead to flash flooding near waters west of Secret Harbour.

Severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall and localised damaging winds are also expected in parts of the South West and Lower West districts.

BOM have issued a watch and act warning and have forecast that heavy rain will develop in the next several hours.

“Severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall and localised damaging winds are also expected about parts of the South West and Lower West districts,” the alert stated.“A slow-moving trough is in place over the far southwest of WA embedded in a moist and unstable airmass ahead of a cold front moving towards the coast.

“This is leading to the development of some slow moving thunderstorm clusters with a risk of heavy rainfall. Localised damaging winds will also be possible with isolated stronger storms near the coast north of Bunbury.

“Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and damaging winds in the warning area over the next several hours.”

The main locations in WA that will be affected are likely to be Mandurah, Dawesville, Ravenswood, Falcon, Bunbury, Busselton, Collie, Dunsborough and Bridgetown.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services advises that people who live in the areas where the storm is set to hit should take precautions to protect themselves from the potential impacts of the severe weather:

• Pack away, secure or tie down outdoor furniture, trampolines and other loose items around your home that could be picked up and thrown by strong winds.
• Prepare an emergency kit with a radio that runs off batteries, a torch, spare batteries and a first aid kit. For more information visit emergency.wa.gov.au/prepare.
• Be prepared to stay indoors when the storm hits.

70 mm of rain was recorded in the three hours to 7.30pm at Ludlow near Capel and 69 mm was recorded at Happy Valley in Busselton in the three hours to 7.30pm.

50 mm of rain was recorded in the two hours to 5.30 pm at Vasse Highway near Busselton and 52 mm was recorded at Ravenscliffe in the two hours to 7.30 pm.

More information can be found at the Bureau of Meteorology’s website.