Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in parts of Goldfields, South Coastal, Great Southern and Central Wheat Belt districts.

Issued at 6:18 pm Thursday, 13 March 2025.

VERY DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WITH INTENSE RAINFALL PERSIST OVER THE SOUTH WEST LAND DIVISION.

Weather Situation: An upper low offshore of the west coast is supporting a surface trough to produce a line of thunderstorms with heavy to locally intense rainfall through the South West Land Division. This line of thunderstorms is slowly tracking towards the southeast. Further east about the Goldfields another surface trough is supporting severe thunderstorms activity with heavy rainfall and damaging winds possible this evening.

VERY DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS are likely to produce heavy, locally intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the South Coastal, Great Southern and Central Wheat Belt districts. Locations which may be affected include Albany, Katanning, Mount Barker, Narrogin, Pingelly and Wagin.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the Goldfields district. Locations which may be affected include Laverton and Zanthus.

Severe thunderstorms are no longer occurring in the Central West, Lower West and South West districts and the warning for these districts is CANCELLED.

Significant rainfall observations:

30.4 MM WAS RECORDED AT MAXON FARM IN THE 30 MINUTES TO 4:05 PM.

35.2 MM WAS RECORDED AT CANTERBURY IN THE 1 HOUR TO 3:41 PM.

28.4 MM WAS RECORDED AT WALEBING IN THE 30 MINUTES TO 3:13 PM.

30.8 MM WAS RECORDED AT BARBERTON EAST IN THE 30 MINUTES TO 3:10 PM.

20.8 mm was recorded at Jingalup in the 30 minutes to 5:40 pm.

30.6 mm was recorded at Wandering in the 1 hour to 5:34 pm.

35.2 mm was recorded at Coondee in the 3 hours to 5:15 pm.

30.8 mm was recorded at Mayanup South in the 1 hour to 5:15 pm.

41.2 mm was recorded at Culford in the 3 hours to 5:12 pm.

34.4 mm was recorded at Boddington North in the 2 hours to 4:45 pm.

30.2 mm was recorded at Quadney in the 1 hour to 4:45 pm.

28.8 mm was recorded at Cordering in the 1 hour to 4:28 pm.

31.2 mm was recorded at Julimar Forest in the 1 hour to 4:25 pm.

21.4 mm was recorded at Whiteman Park in the 30 minutes to 1:46 pm.

Significant wind observations:

113 km/h gust was recorded at Gooseberry Hill at 1:54 pm.

93 km/h gust was recorded at Laverton at 3:40 pm.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services advises that people should:
* If outside find safe shelter away from trees, power lines, storm water drains and streams.
* Close your curtains and blinds, and stay inside away from windows.
* Unplug electrical appliances and do not use land line 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 and turn your headlights on.
* Be alert and watch for hazards on the road such as fallen power lines 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.