Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in parts of Pilbara, Gascoyne, Goldfields, Eucla and South Interior districts.

Issued at 4:50 pm Wednesday, 24 January 2024.
Heavy rainfall in northern WA extending to the southeast on Thursday.

Weather Situation: A tropical low is located in the southern Pilbara and is forecast to continue moving south to southeast. Showers and thunderstorms embedded within a cloud band will lead to heavy rainfall across the southeast on Thursday morning.

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast for parts of the southern Pilbara and northeastern Gascoyne Wednesday afternoon and persisting into Thursday. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 60 to 80 mm are likely during Wednesday afternoon, increasing up to 100 mm overnight into Thursday.

HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is also forecast to develop in the southern Goldfields, Southern Interior and Eucla districts during Thursday morning and persist into Thursday evening. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 30 to 50 mm are likely, with isolated falls of 60 mm possible during Thursday morning and afternoon.

Heavy rainfall is forecast to ease across the Goldfields, Southern Interior and Eucla districts overnight Thursday while rainfall may persist into Friday morning across the Gascoyne and Pilbara districts.

DAMAGING WIND GUSTS are no longer expected in the northeast Gascoyne and southern Pilbara.

This type of weather is a rare event for people in the southeast of WA at this time of year.
Flood Watches and Flood Warnings are current across northern WA catchments. For details, please see www.bom.gov.au/wa/warnings/
Locations which may be affected include Newman, Forrest, Leinster, Rawlinna, Three Rivers and Wiluna.

Newman Airport recorded 148.2 mm in 24 hours to 3.34 pm, 85 mm of that in 6 hours to 5:38 am.

Barimunya Airport recorded at wind gust of 94 km/h at 7:47am.

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.