Issued: Monday, 1 August 2022
The lower parts of Western Australia are being impacted by severe wind, rain and surf as weather typically only seen once a year is expected extend a 72-hour period.
The first of a series of cold fronts is bringing strong to gale force winds to most of southwestern WA on Monday.
A Severe Weather Warning for damaging winds and heavy rainfall is current for Perth, Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Katanning, Mandurah, Manjimup, Margaret River, Merredin, Moora, Mount Barker, Narrogin and Northam.
A second front will move across the coast later this week, prolonging the severe weather conditions in WA through to Wednesday.
Widespread rainfall of between 20-30 mm has been recorded for multiple sites in southern WA, with the highest recorded total of 51 mm at Walpole over two days.
At this stage, this rainfall is not likely to lead to riverine flooding however localised flash flooding may occur on Monday in the warning area associated with heavy falls.
Damaging wind gusts of around 90 - 100 km/h have been recorded at Cape Naturalist and Geraldton Airport recorded winds gusts of 87 km/hr on Monday.
There has also been swells of up to 3.1 m around Cape Naturalist – although this is likely to rapidly increase during Monday. Swell to 9.5 m is forecast at Rottnest Island which would be the largest wave height observed in more than two years.
These conditions are likely to be replicated on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Bureau will monitor the situation closely and provide regular updates to its forecasts and warnings.
Communities are encouraged to stay up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings via the Bureau's website and BOM Weather app.
