The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning, alerting communities that WA is set to be battered by damaging winds and heavy rainfall.

The warning was issued at 5.47pm and BOM outlined cold front moving northeast through the South West district, including parts of Lower West, South West, South Coastal and Great Southern districts.

“The front is triggering a number of showers and a few embedded thunderstorms that may produce heavy rainfall in some locations. Damaging winds are also possible in the northern portions of the warning area,” the statement read.

Locations which may be affected by the weather warning include Collie, Harvey, Denmark and Pinjarra.

“Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours,” BOM said.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services issued safety advise including:

• 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.
• Slow down and turn your headlights on.
• If it is raining heavily and you cannot see, pull over and park with your hazard lights on until the rain clears.

The warning comes after Perth residents were told to brace for a potential “severe” weather this Sunday and public holiday Monday, with a wet weather event expected to descend on the city that typically occurs “once or twice a year”.

Jessica Lingard of the Bureau of Meterology said the rainfall is set pummel the city as the week progresses.

“Today and tonight are probably likely to be the heaviest rainfall, and then there will still be a fair amount of rainfall around, especially tomorrow morning,” the meteorologist told PerthNow.