Perth and large parts of WA are bracing for a wild weekend of rain, thunderstorms and dangerous coastal conditions as a powerful cold front barrels across the State.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that heavy rain, damaging winds and possible flash flooding could develop from Friday as the weather system sweeps through the South West and heads up the WA coast.
Forecaster Jonathan How said rain would spread across a huge stretch of the State, from north of Geraldton to Perth and the south coast.
“Rain arrives from Friday and showers will sweep across the State on Saturday and Sunday,” he said on Thursday.
The wet weather is expected to bring significant rainfall to parts of the west coast, ending Perth’s run of sunny winter weather.
The front is forecast to cross the South West Land Division on Friday, bringing widespread rain and thunderstorms.
Mr How warned that some storms could become severe.
“We could see damaging winds as well as heavy rainfall,” he said.
“Some of those thunderstorms could require severe thunderstorm warnings.”
The bureau has also flagged a risk of flash flooding as intense bursts of rain move through.
Once the front passes, temperatures will tumble as strong west to south-westerly winds push colder air across the region.
Showers are expected to continue through Saturday, particularly near the coast.
A low-pressure system developing south of Albany could also generate hazardous surf and dangerous coastal conditions along WA’s west and south coasts across the weekend.
“It will be quite cool behind that cold front,” Mr How said.
Conditions are expected to gradually ease on Sunday as the system weakens and moves east.
The same weather system is then forecast to trigger a broad rain event across eastern Australia next week.
PERTH WEATHER FORECAST
- Thursday: Sunny, Max 22 ☀️
- Friday: Showers, 9-18 ☔️
- Saturday: Showers, 11-19 ☔️
- Sunday: Showers, 11-18 ☔️
- Monday: Showers, 10-18 ☔️
- Tuesday: Showers, 9-17 ☔️
- Wednesday: Showers easing, 7-17 ☔️
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