**WA** Severe Weather Warning for damaging winds and heavy rainfall for people in the Kimberley and North Interior forecast districts Issued at 4:43 am WST on Friday 9 January 2015. For people in parts of WA northeast of a line from Bidyadanga to Giles. This includes people in, near or between the following towns: Broome, Derby, Kuri Bay and Kalumburu. This does not include Wyndham and Kununurra. Weather Situation A slow moving tropical low lies to the south of Derby and is continuing to produce showers and thunderstorms over the Kimberley and northeast parts of the North Interior district. This system is expected to begin moving eastwards through the southern Kimberley during Friday. Showers and gusty thunderstorms may produce HEAVY RAINFALL that could cause FLASH FLOODING in parts of the warning area. The areas of greatest risk Friday morning include Broome, Derby, Curtin, the Dampier Peninsula and coastal parts to Kuri Bay. During Friday the areas of greatest risk will move to central and southeast parts of the Kimberley with the passage of the low, including Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek. Heavy rainfall will ease over the western Kimberley during Friday afternoon but is likely to persist in coastal parts between Cape Leveque and Kalumburu. Flood Advices have also been issued, please refer to bom.gov.au/wa/warnings/ for full details. Strong and squally winds are likely in coastal parts from Broome to the WA/NT border and also in the vicinity of the low. The low is expected to deepen during Friday as it moves eastwards. DAMAGING GUSTS to 100 kilometres per hour that could result in DAMAGE TO HOMES AND PROPERTY may occur at Fitzroy Crossing and surrounding areas from Friday morning to Friday evening, then at Halls Creek and surrounding areas from Friday evening into Saturday morning. The strength of the winds is dependent on how close the low passes to these communities. Since 9:00 am Thursday the following rainfall totals have been recorded: Lombadina Airstrip 122.6 millimetres, Dampier Downs Airstrip 89.4, Cygnet Bay 75.0 millimetres (recorded in the 6 hours to 3:00 pm Thursday), West Roebuck 60.4 millimetres and Broome Airport 38.2 millimetres. This is an unusual weather event and dangerous conditions may occur in some parts of the warning area. 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 there is flooding, create your own sandbags by using pillow cases filled with sand and place them around doorways to protect your home. If boating, swimming or surfing leave the water. Do not drive into water of unknown depth and current. Slow down and turn your headlights on. Be alert and watch for hazards on the road such as fallen power lines and loose debris. If it is raining heavily and you can not see, pull over and park with your hazard lights on until the rain clears. If your home or property has significant damage, like a badly damaged roof or flooding, call the SES on 132 500. The next warning will be issued by 11:00 am WST Friday.
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 22:55:54 +0000
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