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Perth and South West weather: Second storm of the week floods road, causing traffic chaos

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Natalie RichardsThe West Australian
Waterlogged: Guildford Road
Camera IconWaterlogged: Guildford Road Credit: Main Roads/Twitter

Roads are waterlogged after 18mm of rain was dumped on Perth in just half an hour this morning in the second major storm in a week.

The first downpour today’s front has flooded roads, causing traffic chaos for those on their morning commute.

Main Roads warned motorists to take extra care on Guildford Road, where the left lane was closed due to the rainfall about 7am, the road has since been reopened.

There are no reports of major damage to homes so far this morning, although State Emergency Services volunteers will be bracing with a severe weather warning in place as the front moves through Perth and the South West today.

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Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Bob Tarr said an additional 10 to 25mm of rainfall was forecast for Perth today, with the Perth Hills set to cop the heaviest falls.

In the city, the heaviest showers are expected between noon and early afternoon.

“If you’re going out for lunch you’re probably going to need an umbrella,” Mr Tarr said.

In the second major storm to hit WA in less than a week, 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 hit about 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.

The Albany rain radar at 7am shows a huge band of rainfall.
Camera IconThe Albany rain radar at 7am shows a huge band of rainfall. Credit: BoM/BoM

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.

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