Wind conditions to ease as dangerous surf risk remains for southern WA

03/08/2022

Issued: Wednesday 3 August 2022

A series of strong cold fronts has produced severe weather over southern Western Australia since Monday with a prolonged period of strong to gale force winds.

A third cold front is crossing southwest WA during Wednesday, maintaining the risk of damaging winds.

Damaging winds will ease from the west coast from late Wednesday afternoon and move to southeast parts of the state on Thursday. They are then expected to ease below damaging strength during Thursday afternoon.

Persistent strong to gale force W/SW winds are producing large waves of 7-10 m between Shark Bay and Esperance. Waves will ease during Thursday.

A severe weather warning for damaging surf is current from Dongara to Albany.

Damaging winds are covering a larger area than we would normally see with these winter systems, extending across a large part of the southern half of the state.

Gusts in excess of 90 km/h are possible over the warning area with gusts in excess of 100km/h about the west coast south of Perth until late Wednesday afternoon.

Rainfall totals expected until the end of Wednesday are expected to be around 15-25mm near the coast been Lancelin and Albany with isolated higher totals to 40mm.

The next cold fronts move over the southwest on Sunday and Monday. These fronts are much weaker than the current event and severe weather is unlikely.

Communities are encouraged to stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings via the Bureau's website and BOM Weather app and follow advice of emergency service agencies.

ENDS