WA weather warning: Downpours of rain and ‘vigorous’ winds expected to batter the southwest

People in WA’s South West are bracing themselves for a battering of wet weather as the strongest front of the year so far is set to hit on Monday.

West Aussies can expect an influx of wet weather between Sunday afternoon until Monday night as two cold fronts prepare to lash the southwest coastline.

A strong cold front on Sunday is set to bring “vigorous northwesterly winds,” with damaging with gusts up to 100km/h, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

Mandurah is set to cop the brunt of it as the bureau predicts “locally destructive wind gusts” above 125km/h and the possibility of “significant damage to homes and property.”

Affected locations may include Albany, Bunbury, Esperance, Katanning, Mandurah, Manjimup, Margaret River, Mount Barker, Narrogin, Northam and Perth.

Heavy, six-hourly rainfall between 30-40mm are likely, which may lead to flash flooding.

There will be a short reprieve overnight before a second cold front arrives on Monday, bringing with it even fiercer conditions.

“The front crossing on Monday is stronger, people in the southwest of WA experience fronts as windy as this about five times per year,” the bureau said.

“This second front will be the strongest front of the year to date.”

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services advised residents to prepare now by tying down any loose outdoor furniture or preparing an emergency kit.

Conditions are expected to ease from the west on Monday evening.