WA weather: BOM issues severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Kimberley and interior regions

Just when West Aussies thought summer had arrived, The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the State.

The warning has been issued for parts of Kimberley, North interior and South Interior districts.

The towns likely to be affected are Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek in Kimberley and Kiwirrkurra in North Interior.

“Thunderstorms are triggering in a moist and unstable airmass though interior regions of WA this afternoon, possibly persisting into the evening,” the BoM warning said on Tuesday.

The severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and large hailstones.

“We could see some severe storms with heavy rain and large hailstones or damaging winds that could contribute to some outback road closures,” BoM meteorologist Angus Hines said.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services advises that people in the warning zones take precautions to keep themselves safe, including:

• Find safe shelter away from trees power lines, storm water drains and streams.
• Unplug electrical appliances and do not use land line telephones if there is lightning.
• Close your curtains and blinds, and stay inside away from windows.
• 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 it is raining heavily and you cannot see, pull over and park with your hazard lights on until the rain clears.