First storms of the season hitting southern WA

Monday 4 May 2020

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) is urging Western Australians to be prepared for storms and severe weather over the coming days.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast that following the rainfall today, there will be a second cold front tomorrow which will produce weather conditions that are seen only once or twice a year.

Tomorrow’s cold front is expected to bring damaging winds of up to 100 kilometres per hour, thunderstorms and small hail in some coastal areas.

Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM said residents in southern parts of the State should prepare their homes and properties for the dangerous weather.

“The impact of storms is often underestimated, and hundreds of households across the State are caught off guard every year,” Commissioner Klemm said.

“If weather permits, clean your gutters and downpipes, secure loose items around your property and remove any overhanging tree branches to help keep your family and home safe.”

From May to October every year, storm activity including tornadoes, lightning, hail, flash flooding and gale force winds cause widespread damage across Western Australia.

Commissioner Klemm said during last year’s storm season, State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers, who are supported by the Emergency Services Levy, attended 575 requests for assistance, and spent over 3,000 hours helping the community with emergency repairs.

“Many of those requests for assistance could have been prevented with simple preparation, so I encourage everyone to prepare for the predicted weather, when it's safe to do so,” he said.

For more information about how to stay storm safe visit dfes.wa.gov.au/safetyinformation/storm

Keep up-to-date during a storm by visiting emergency.wa.gov.au, calling 13 DFES, following DFES on Facebook and Twitter and listening to ABC and 6PR radio and other news bulletins.

If your home is hit badly by a storm, and without immediate repairs it will result in major damage which can’t be safely fix by yourself or your insurance provider, call the SES for emergency assistance on 132 500.

Media Contact: DFES Media and Corporate Communications 9395 9543.