Hail, rain bring road risks
UPDATE: Stormy weather has brought heavy rain, hail and strong winds, prompting police to warn of road risks.
Bencubbin and surrounding areas were hit with a short but significant storm today that brought heavy rain, hail and strong winds to the area.
Police are urging people to take extreme care if driving in or around Bencubbin.
"Motorists should pay particular attention to avoid debris on the roads and be careful of water covering or running across the road," a police spokeswoman said.
LATEST DFES ALERTS AND WARNINGS
WA WEATHER SATELLITE
Driving on gravel roads should be avoided if possible.
A section of Bencubbin town site, including the railway line and parts of the recreation ground, are underwater.
Further storms are forecast with rain, thunder and lightning continuing unabated since midday today.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services urge residents to take action as bad weather hit an area bounded by Perth to Hyden to Telfer to Nanutarra to Lancelin.
If you live in an area bounded by Perth to Hyden to Southern Cross to Carnegie to Telfer to Nanutarra to Overlander Roadhouse to Lancelin you should take action and stay safe with the start of severe thunderstorms.
This includes people in, near and between Newman, Meekatharra, Dalwallinu and York and surrounding areas. This includes parts of the Perth metropolitan area north east of a line Yanchep to Bullsbrook.
The overall weather pattern is not unusual for this time of year, but severe weather may occur in some parts of the warning area.
The storms could cause damage to homes and property.
The warning comes after a 10-year-old child was killed in a crash at Goomalling yesterday. That road death is not believed to be weather related.
LATEST
TODDLER DEAD IN VICTORIAN STORM TRAGEDY
US ICE STORM HALTS NEARLY 1000 FLIGHTS
NEMTSOV HAD FEARED FOR LIFE
LAMBIE THREATENED WITH BEHEADING
JIHADI JOHN 'CONTEMPLATED SUICIDE'
CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY TURNS 25
WHAT TO DO
• Close your curtains and blinds, and stay inside away from windows.
• Unplug electrical appliances and avoid using landline telephones if there is lightning.
• If caught outside find safe shelter away from trees, powerlines, storm water drains and streams.
• 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 boating, swimming or surfing leave the water.
IF DRIVING
• Do not drive into water of unknown depth and current.
• Slow down, turn your lights on and keep a safe distance from other drivers.
• Be alert and watch for hazards on the road such as fallen powerlines and loose debris.
• If it is raining heavily and you cannot see, pull over and park with your hazard lights on until the rain clears.
• Be careful driving on gravel roads as surfaces will be slippery and muddy and vehicles could become bogged.
