Damaging northerly wind gusts possible for areas in Western Australia's South West
09/06/2021
A severe weather warning that covers an area home to the majority of WA's population has been issued for a range of weather that will impact places differently.
Damaging northerly wind gusts up to 100 kilometres per hour are possible in towns south of Mandurah down to Walpole, including Bunbury, Busselton, Dunsborough, Margaret River, Manjimup, Augusta and Windy Harbour during tonight (Wednesday night) and Thursday morning. Winds of this nature can cause damage to homes and property, particularly as the direction of the winds is not usual.
Higher than normal tides are expected and may cause flooding of low-lying coastal areas along the west coast, particularly the Geographe Bay area.
Damaging surf conditions are also likely to cause significant beach erosion across the west coast area included in the warning.
View the warning here.
The warning will be updated at 5pm today, then every three hours from then until weather is no longer severe. Conditions are expected to ease during Thursday.
Perth is included in the severe weather warning area, with the most likely time for gusty winds from midnight tonight to 7am Thursday morning.
Windy, showery and rainy conditions have already been experienced. Early this morning Gooseberry Hill in the Perth Hills recorded an 83 kilometre per hour gust. Other gusts included 89km/hr at North Island in the Abrolhos islands, 78km/hr at Geraldton Airport, 85km/hr at Cape Naturaliste and 76km/hr at Rottnest Island.
This weather is being caused by an approaching low-pressure system that has caused winds to turn northerly, intensifying in strength particularly between Geraldton and Albany, including Perth.
Further north, a trough is causing rain in the west Pilbara and adjacent Gascoyne that has already produced moderate falls. Heavy falls are also possible in isolated areas, that may cause localised flooding.
In the 24 hours to 9am Wednesday morning the most rain fell inland of Carnarvon including 45.8mm in Minilya Bridge and 43.6mm in Hill Springs. Carnarvon airport recorded 19.6mm and Learmonth airport near Exmouth recorded 14.6mm.
Rain in the western Pilbara and Gascoyne is easing in the next 24 hours, but Exmouth could still get some heavy falls.
Forecasts for rain include 15-30mm and isolated falls up to 60mm for the remainder of Wednesday in coastal areas between Coral Bay and Mardie, and adjacent inland areas to Mount Augustus. On Thursday a further 10-20mm with isolated falls up to 30mm is expected between Exmouth and Karratha.
Stay up to date with forecasts here and warnings here.
ENDS
