Residents in Western Australia’s Goldfields and Wheatbelt are being warned to brace for more bad weather with a severe thunderstorm bringing hail and damaging winds to parts of the state.
Torrential rain in recent days has swelled waterways’ banks and prompted an evacuation warning around the town of Northam, east of Perth.
People in the Great Southern region are also being warned to brace for severe weather including heavy rainfall and flash flooding that could damage homes and make travel dangerous.
The worst-affected areas are expected to be south of Hyden and Narrogin, down the south coast including Lake Grace, Lake King, Ravensthorpe, Jerramungup and surrounding areas.
Heavy rainfall overnight hit the area, with the Bureau of Meteorology’s gauge at Dragon Rocks recording 53 millimetres between midnight and 3:00am.
Residents are being told to avoid travel if possible, and stay out of the rivers and ocean.
People are also being asked not to drive through flooded areas as the true depth of floodwaters is not always clear.
Northam flooding warnings still in place, caution urged
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) this morning issued a warning to people in the Avon River catchment, including Mortlock River, and the towns of Northam, Beverley, York and Toodyay.
People are being urged to watch for changes in water levels, and to be ready to evacuate if required.
A temporary evacuation centre remains at the Northam Recreation Centre on the Henry Street Oval.
“The Avon River at Beverley Bridge is currently at 1.44 metres and rising,” a statement from DFES at 9:00am said.
Major flooding may occur along the Avon River from Beverley to Toodjay, including Northam.
Major flooding may also affect Toodyay today, with the Avon River at Stirling Terrace Toodyay at 3.71m about 9:00am this morning.
It is expected to reach more than 4m on Saturday.
River peaks expected today
DFES district officer Sven Anderson said the river may be close to peaking at Northam and at Toodyay, if it had not already done so, and was not expected to rise further.
“Things are pretty much as expected, or better, which is very good news for us and obviously, for the community,” he said.
“Currently things are going really well and it’s staying under a level where it’s causing any damage.
“Obviously that can change, it won’t change quickly but it can certainly change.”
He said river levels were likely peaking this morning in Beverley, and downstream later today York, Northam and Toodyay were expected to follow suit.
He said there was still potential danger as water flowed downstream, but rain levels were not expected to be too dramatic.
“The rain expected over the weekend has actually lessened, so we’re only expecting up to 5mm today and not that much more on Sunday so that probably won’t affect the levels very much,” he said.
There is also a flood warning current for the West Kimberley district, and a flood watch for the Pilbara, in the north of the state.
On Friday, Perth had received its second highest rainfall on record, receiving more than 114mm.
However, it only recorded 15mm on Saturday.
Swanbourne received 36.4mm in the same period.
Conditions in the city are expected to ease today, with just 0-1mm of rain predicted to fall, and a top of 26C.
Source: ABC News