IDW21037
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Severe Weather Warning

for DAMAGING, LOCALLY DESTRUCTIVE WINDS and HEAVY RAINFALL

For people in Central West, Lower West, South West, South Coastal, South East Coastal, Great Southern, Central Wheat Belt and parts of Goldfields, Gascoyne and Eucla districts.

Issued at 10:50 pm Friday, 29 May 2026.

DAMAGING TO LOCALLY DESTRUCTIVE WINDS TO AFFECT THE SOUTH WEST LAND DIVISION FROM SATURDAY EVENING.

Weather Situation: A strong cold front will sweep over western districts overnight on Saturday, bringing damaging to locally destructive wind gusts and periods of heavy rainfall. The front will first affect the Central West during Saturday evening, before extending southwards to parts of the Lower West and South West, including Perth, before sunrise early on Sunday morning. During Sunday, a deepening low pressure system approaches the southwest and will bring another burst of damaging to locally destructive winds to western and southern parts of the South West Land Division. By Monday the low pressure system is expected to move to the east and the risk of damaging winds extends to inland parts.

DAMAGING TO LOCALLY DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS in excess of 125 km/h are possible in showers and thunderstorms around the front moving over the Central West during late Saturday evening and the Lower West and South West, including Perth, before sunrise on Sunday morning.

Isolated DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 90 km/h are possible in showers and thunderstorms over western parts of the South West Land Division through the remainder of Sunday, before WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WESTERLY WINDS averaging 60 to 70 km/h with gusts to 110 km/h are likely to redevelop in the evening. LOCALLY DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS in excess of 125 km/h are again possible over an area southwest of a line from Lancelin to Albany, including Perth, during Sunday evening and Monday morning.

The risk of DAMAGING WINDS will extend to inland parts of the South West Land Division and southern Goldfields throughout Monday, but will ease about the west coast before midday.

Moderate to HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is also possible over the weekend in persistent showers and thunderstorms in western districts. This is most likely through the Central West district from late Saturday afternoon through to early Sunday morning, where six-hourly rainfall totals between 40 to 60 mm are likely.

The winds associated with the low pressure system during Sunday evening and Monday morning are expected to produce dangerous weather that is only seen once every 3 to 5 years in the southwest of WA.

A separate warning for DAMAGING SURF and ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES is also current for parts of the coast. For more details, refer to https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts

Locations which may be affected include Albany, Bunbury, Esperance, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Katanning, Mandurah, Manjimup, Margaret River, Merredin, Moora, Mount Barker, Narrogin, Norseman, Northam and Perth.

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 boating, swimming or surfing leave the water.
* Be alert and watch for hazards on the road such as fallen power lines and loose debris.
* Keep away from flooded drains, rivers, streams and waterways.
* Be careful of fallen trees, damaged buildings and debris.
* Be careful of fallen power lines. They are dangerous and should always be treated as live.
* Assess your home, car and property for damage.
* If damage has occurred take photos and contact your insurance company to organise permanent repairs.
* If your home or property has significant damage, like a badly damaged roof or flooding, call the SES on 132 500.

The next Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 5:00 am AWST Saturday.

Check https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts. Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts or call 1300 659 210. The Bureau and Department of Fire and Emergency Services would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.