WESTERN AUSTRALIA ISSUES URGENT WARNING OVER SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS

SYDNEY, July 22 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Australia's weather agency on Monday issued an emergency warning of severe thunderstorms that would smash Western Australia (WA) state overnight, reported Xinhua.

Shortly after 9.00 pm local time, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued the thunderstorm alert for WA residents, especially for those living in the state's southwestern region

The weather bureau revealed that a moist air mass and a trough ahead of a cold front is generating severe thunderstorms, which are expected to continue into the night.

"Very dangerous thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy, locally intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours," said the BOM.

"Locations which may be affected include Bunbury, Collie, Mandurah, Perth, Harvey and Scarborough," the bureau added.

The weather situation is also being monitored by the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

The emergency authority has called on local communities to pack away loose items around home and prepare an emergency kit as soon as possible in case the thunderstorms hit.

Australia's weather service provider Weatherzone estimated that the wet and windy condition would spread further north and east into Tuesday and Wednesday.

Despite risks posed by the wild weather, Weatherzone also noted that the heavy rainfall could bring "much-needed relief after an exceptionally long dry spell in the state's southwest."

 According to its analysis, the seven months prior to May 2024 was the driest October to April period on record for WA's capital Perth, with only 23 mm of rain falling in the city.

"Since then, close to 300 mm has fallen in less than three months, and more is on the way this week. This rainfall is helping to eradicate the multi-season rainfall deficiency that had built up in Perth since the middle of last winter," Weatherzone added.  

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA