Wild weather the likes of which is only seen in Western Australia's south-west five times a year is set to hit the state on Wednesday, packing strong gusts which could cause significant damage or destruction to homes and property.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds, abnormally high tides and damaging surf in the Lower West including Perth, as well as the South West and parts of the South Coastal and Great Southern districts.
A strong cold front is expected to bring wind gusts up to 100 kilometres per hour across south-west WA from late in the morning through to early Thursday morning, but isolated gusts may exceed 125kph.
Locations which may be affected include Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Mandurah, Manjimup, Margaret River, Mount Barker, Perth, Harvey, Lancelin, Walpole and Yanchep.
While a squally storm and hail are possible in Perth, the worst weather is expected to be south-west of a line from Mandurah to Walpole.
The BOM said the system would be windier than a typical front and was likely to produce the kind of weather only experienced five times a year.
"Dangerous gusts in excess of 125kph are more likely between Mandurah and Walpole," BOM forecaster James Crow said.
"They are likely to be more isolated, with the greater risk being for damaging winds up to 100 kilometres per hour with the potential to damage homes and property.
"We're also looking at the potential for thunderstorms with small hail as the front passes through."
High tides, damaging surf expected
The squally winds are expected to impact the South West Capes by midday and extend up to Perth by 2:00pm.
The BOM said tides between Mandurah and Walpole were likely to rise above the normal high tide mark early in the morning, with very rough seas and the potential for flooding of low-lying coastal areas.
That area will extend eastwards to include Albany late morning.
Damaging surf conditions are possible along coastal parts between Cape Naturaliste to Walpole, bringing possible beach erosion.
Showers will extend through south-western parts of the state during the morning and into the western and southern Gascoyne, Goldfields and western Eucla during the afternoon and evening.
Thunderstorms are possible south-west of a line from Geraldton to Esperance.
Perth is expected to receive between 10 and 20 millimetres of rain.
