Severe Weather event 6th Jun – 8 Jun

IMPORTANT

Due to forecast Severe weather conditions forecast and the potential for elevated Fire Danger Ratings from Thursday  6th June 2019 , the Department of Fire & Emergency Services is recommending that all Local Governments consider the following:

BUSH FIRES ACT 1954, SECTION 46

Prohibiting the lighting of any fire in the open air and direct all owners or occupiers of the land to extinguish any fire burning on the land from 1800hrs on WEDNESDAY 5th June 2019 until 0800hrs on SATURDAY 8th June 2019, inclusive, as per BUSH FIRES ACT 1954, SECTION 46 (1A).

Subject to subsection (1A) a bush fire control officer, or the local government in whose district the land is situated may prohibit , or postpone the lighting of a fire, where his or its opinion the fire, if lit, would be or become a source of danger by escaping from on which is proposed to be lit

Due to very little rainfall being received, current dryness of natural vegetation , a number of escaped private burns and the strong forecasted winds before the anticipated cold front later this week, we would like to encourage all Local Governments to consider halting burning for this period.

Whilst we understand that many farmers are well into their seeding program, some will be attempting to burn additional areas with the view of putting in more paddocks to crop.

Below is a summary of forecast weather conditions for the Midwest Gascoyne region from the BOM period ending Fri 7June 2019.

OVERVIEW

A trough is approaching the west coast with northerly winds ahead of the trough becoming particularly fresh and gusty over the coming days. The pressure chart shows a weather pattern that results in warm, windy conditions that people in parts of the SWLD would experience once every year or two. Temperatures are not as high as they would be if this weather pattern was to occur earlier in the year, however temperatures are above average for June, and humidity is below average (dry). Peak fire danger conditions on Thursday in the SWLD.

WEDNESDAY 5th

Trough slowly approaching the west coast, but remaining in the Indian Ocean.

Winds – N/NE’lies Starting to increase in strength in the SWLD. Reaching 35-40km/h sustained, gusting 50-60km/h in parts. May maintain fresh strength overnight particularly elevated terrain.

Humidity – Dry and remaining dry overnight. 20-25% during the day and 25-35% overnight.

Temperature – Daytime temps around 20 in SWLD, reaching 25 in Midwest. Overnight temps in the teens in this area, and reaching low single digits in Goldfields and adjacent parts of the eastern SWLD.

Rainfall – Dry.

FDR – High through most parts of the SWLD reaching V.High in the Midwest.

THURSDAY 6th

Deep trough passing over the west coast during the afternoon, with strengthening winds ahead of the trough from early morning, followed by a band of rainfall.

Winds – Peak in wind strength. Fairly widespread areas of 40-45km/h sustained winds through most of the State, gusting 60-70km/h in parts. Likely maintaining windy conditions overnight.

Humidity – Dry, increasing from the west later in the day. 15-20% during the daytime through most of the State except about the SW capes where values are higher. RH rising as the trough sweeps across the west coast mostly in the late afternoon and evening, to be near 90-100% in the central and western SWLD overnight.

Temperature – Daytime temps around 20 in SWLD, reaching 25 in Midwest. Overnight temps remain elevated ahead of the trough including the Gascoyne, Goldfields and eastern SWLD. Overnight temps falling to more typical figures behind the trough, mostly in the central and western SWLD

Rainfall – Dry ahead of the trough. Widespread rain with the trough, moderate falls expected with the possibility of heavy falls along parts of the west coast for which BOM will remain in monitoring mode at this stage. Nil lightning.

FDR – V.High through a significant majority of the central and northern SWLD. Pockets of Severe FDR within this area, most likely in parts of the Upper Great Southern, Wheat Belt and Midwest.

Extra notes – Higher than normal tides expected along the entire west coast, peaking during the middle of the day. A peak up to 0.5m more than standard tide in parts of the west coast, resulting in up to 0.4m higher than HAT.

FRIDAY 7th

The trough continues to move through the State, with a cold front passing over southwest WA in the wake of the trough during the day.

Winds – N/NW’lies maintain strength in the central and eastern SWLD, also the Goldfields and Midwest. Reaching 40-45km/h sustained, gusting 60-70km/h in parts. Parts of the western SWLD should have eased since Thursday, but will experience a significant W/SW wind change with the cold front.

Humidity – Remaining dry in eastern WA, RH 15-25% mostly east of Kalgoorlie/Esperance. 45-55%+ in the western majority of WA and rising.

Temperature – Significantly cooler than previous days, daytime temps remaining in the teens through most parts. Overnight temps plummeting through the inland SWLD, reaching near 0 with frost likely.

Rainfall – Dry ahead of the trough. Widespread rain with the trough, moderate falls expected with the possibility of heavy falls around parts of the Gascoyne coast for which BOM will remain in monitoring mode at this stage. Wintery showers approach the SW, however there may be a period of the day where rainfall conditions are fairly isolated just inland from the Lower West.

FDR – High in the central and eastern SWLD, also the Goldfields and Midwest, tending Low-Mod in the western SWLD.