A series of cold fronts will lash southwestern parts of Western Australia over the next two days, bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds.

The first of these fronts is sweeping over this morning, bringing with it heavy rain. The rain has potential to bring flash flooding, with already rapid falls seen at Witchcliffe where 9mm fell in just 10 minutes. The South West district will see the heaviest falls, picking up 30-40mm with Perth likely to get at least 20-30mm.

Winds with the front are also expected to be potentially destructive about the Lower West, South West, South Coastal and Great Southern, with widespread gusts of 80-100km/h and isolated gusts to 125km/h. Wind gusts have reached 102km/h at Busselton, 100km/h at Cape Leeuwin and 83km/h at Bunbury with the passage of the front.

Conditions are then likely to ease significantly from the afternoon as a weak ridge of high pressure pushes in, with little if any rain likely during the evening.

However, after an relatively ordinary start to the day on Monday apart from some gusty winds, things will quickly get more wild later in the morning as an even more powerful front sweeps through.

While this system is not likely to be as damp, it will be colder and windier. 

Winds will be strongest ahead of and with the change, with widespread potentially damaging wind gusts of 90-110km/h likely, with isolated stronger gusts. A further widespread 15-30mm is likely to fall, which will be welcome across the region after a relatively dry start to winter.

Conditions should ease from Tuesday as a high pressure ridge develops, leading to a few lingering showers near the coast and a return to chilly nights.

– Weatherzone