People in Western Australia’s south have been warned to batten down as squally weather approaches, packing damaging gusts up to 100km/h.

July 11, 2021

Western Australia has been warned to batten down the hatches as the strongest cold front of the year barrels toward it.

Squally weather packing damaging winds with gusts of more than 100km/h are likely to hit the state’s south, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

A severe weather warning has been issued for areas from Jurien Bay, 200km north of Perth, to Bremer Bay, about 500km southeast of Perth, including Perth, York, Narrogin and Katanning.

Damaging winds, heavy rainfall, abnormally high tides and damaging surf are forecast.

Sustained showers and heavy rain in isolated areas could lead to flash flooding when the cold front hits on Monday morning.

The heaviest rain is expected to fall around the Darling Scarp, near Perth.

Three-day rain totals of 20-50mm with isolated falls as high as 100mm are possible.

The gusty conditions are expected to start early on Monday before easing during the day.

They’re forecast to return on Monday afternoon before continuing throughout Tuesday.

Damage to trees and homes could occur, the bureau warns.

Higher than normal tides and dangerous surf are possible from Shark Bay, about 800km north of Perth, through to Albany, about 400km south of Perth.

They are expected to continue for several days with the potential for coastal erosion and inundation in low-lying areas such as Riverside Drive in Perth.

The city has already recorded 117.2mm of rain in first 10 days of July, which is 82 per cent of the monthly average of 142.3mm.

This is Perth’s wettest start to July since 1965, with rain throughout southwest WA above average so far this year.

A severe weather warning is likely to remain in place until Wednesday morning.