‘Significant’ storm to hammer millions in WA and bring icy weather to NSW, Victoria and SA | Australia weather
The major storm system that descended on millions of Western Australians on Saturday is bringing hurricane-force winds and will deliver a “winter blast” to the east of the country early next week.
Residents in WA’s populated south-west region have been warned to tie up loose items and prepare for devastating winds that could exceed 125km/h from Saturday evening.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that damaging winds could come as well as the risk of storms, heavy downpours, flash flooding, damaging waves and tornadoes.
Winds exceeding 125 km/h are generally associated with category two cyclones.
While early winter storm systems are not new to the area, “this seems pretty significant,” warned the bureau’s Daniel Hayes.
A deep low pressure system was moving toward the WA coastline on Saturday, bringing heavy showers and strong winds, dragging tropical moisture with it.
There was a bureau warning in place covering the whole of south-west WA on Saturday morning. Residents were told to prepare their homes and tie up any loose items.
Six-hour rainfall totals are forecast to be up to 60 mm in the mid-western parts of the region from late Saturday through early Sunday morning.
The entire southwest coastline was also under a warning for abnormally high tides and damaging surf.
While floods may occur in low-lying areas as of Sunday morning, residents were warned to stay away from surf and open areas.
Runoff winds of up to 125km/h were expected between Lancelin and Albany, including Perth, on Sunday night.
Hayes said residents in the Alpine regions of South Australia and Victoria would face further warnings until Sunday as the system moved eastward.
“We are seeing impacts across South Australia through Monday and then some of the rain and wind increasing across parts of Victoria and New South Wales on Monday and Tuesday.
“We are starting to see significant winter winds as this front moves forward. It will be noticeably cooler due to these strong winds.”
Wind gusts of 50 km/h were forecast for Melbourne on Monday evening. Hayes said that there may be snowfall in the mountainous regions at the beginning of next week.
But as it moves eastward, the system will become disconnected from tropical moisture, reducing the amount of rain it can bring, he said.
While conditions herald the arrival of winter, the bureau’s long-range winter forecast shows the southern two-thirds of the country will be warmer than average.
This forecast also takes into account developments in the tropical Pacific Ocean, where meteorologists are monitoring the possible development of El Niño this winter.
Previous El Niños have brought warmer, drier conditions to eastern Australia during spring periods.
This phenomenon can increase global temperatures, and experts say that when the system is combined with global warming, 2027 could be the hottest year in history.
