Severe weather warning issued for South West

If you live in the Lower West, South West, South Coastal and parts of Great Southern districts you should take action and stay safe with severe weather to come.

Locations which may be affected include Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Katanning, Mandurah, Manjimup, Margaret River, Mount Barker, Narrogin, Northam and Perth.

This is the first significant cold front of the year. Weather conditions may cause damage to property and make road conditions hazardous.

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 18/04/2019 15:11:00 the Bureau of Meteorology advised the passage of a strong cold front is expected to cause damaging winds, averaging 50 to 60 kilometres per hour with peak gusts to around 100 kilometres per hour, which could cause damage to homes and property.

The risk of damaging winds commences from around 8pm near the Southwest Capes and extends to the Perth Metropolitan area, Albany and inland parts towards midnight. In the wake of the front, a pool of cold air will move over southwest WA from early Friday morning.

Thunderstorms, small hail and squally conditions are likely and damaging winds are again possible.

Damaging surf conditions may occur and could cause some beach erosion from late Friday morning. The worst weather conditions are expected in coastal parts between Busselton and Albany.

Some roads may be 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 your local Shire.

DFES is monitoring the situation.

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, 6PR, or listen to news bulletins.

Updates will be provided when the situation changes.