Perth and South West weather: Bureau of Meteorology warns of dangerous storm front

People in Perth and the South West are being told to brace for wild weather today as the second major storm strikes WA in less than a week.

The Bureau of Meteorology has sent out a severe weather warning ahead of a cold front which is forecast to batter the South West from tomorrow morning.

The Bureau warns wind gusts of up to 100km/h are possible and thunderstorms which could even bring hail to some areas.

The strong winds are forecast to hit people south of Mandurah, as far south as Albany and those living in coastal areas are being told to brace for the worst of the weather.

The first of the wild weather is expected in a line from Busselton to Walpole from 5am and is forecast to extend from Mandurah to Albany by about 8am. By noon, the weather front is forecast to move from to Perth and Bremer Bay.

It comes ahead of the first long weekend since the regional travel ban was eased and as Perth tourists prepare to head out of isolation and down south en masse.

The holiday towns of Busselton, Margaret River and Albany are among a list of towns being told to brace, while those in Perth, Bunbury, Katanning, Mandurah, Manjimup, Mount Barker, Narrogin are also being told to prepare.

The Bureau says the storm could bring rainfalls of up to 50mm to Perth and South West as the front passes across the State and warns homes could be damaged by the strong winds.

The front will also bring damaging surf conditions, high tides and potential flooding and ocean users are being told to stay out of the water.

Despite the warning, the Bureau says the front is not expected to be as strong as the front which hit on Sunday and Monday, felling trees and fences, tearing apart roofs and toppling powerlines.

At its peak, more than 60,000 properties experienced power outages, thousands of which remained on Tuesday.

“This is typical weather for this time of the year this front is not as strong as the weather system which moved through Perth and western parts of WA last Sunday and Monday, but winds may cause damage to property and make road conditions hazardous,” the Bureau said.

People are being urged to stay inside, unplug electrical appliances and take extra care of the roads.

Yesterday, a freak wind gust which hit the northern suburb of Butler toppled fences and flung a trampoline over a house roof.

The damage was limited to just a handful of houses but residents say it was like being in the middle of a “mini tornado”.

Butler resident Ben Boschman said he was sitting at his kitchen table when he heard the wind suddenly crank up like a jet engine.

“We have had a few storms come through and you kind of know they are coming but this was like nothing I have seen before,” he said.

Anyone whose home is damaged should contact the SES on 132 500.