Overview
- The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe heavy rainfall warning for Western Australia’s South West and lower west because a slow‑moving cold front will bring persistent rain and thunderstorms that may cause flash flooding.
- Forecasters expect typical six‑hour totals of about 30–60 millimetres with localised higher falls possible, and later coverage raised isolated estimates as high as around 70–90 millimetres in spots.
- Emergency services have urged people in the warning zone to ‘act now’ and follow preparedness steps such as securing loose items, preparing an emergency kit, trimming branches, clearing gutters and checking the Emergency WA app for plans.
- Intense short‑term rainfall has already been recorded in the South West, including about 52.8mm east of Busselton in two hours and 50.8mm at Ravenscliffe in several hours, which increases the chance of flash runoff and flooded streets.
- The front will first hit coastal areas from Mandurah to Bunbury, then shift north into the Perth metro before moving inland to the Wheatbelt and Great Southern, creating risks of travel disruption, overflowing drains and localized property damage that residents should plan for.