Emergency Services Weather Briefing
Issued at 3:16 pm WST on Friday 2 May 2014
for the period until midnight WST Friday 2 May 2014.

NON ROUTINE ISSUE
Covering the period from Sunday 4 May to Monday 5 May 2014.

MAIN POINTS
Heavy rainfall which may lead to localised flooding is forecast for the western Pilbara and western Gascoyne on Sunday evening and Monday.
Heavy rainfall may extend further southwards into the Central West near Kalbarri and Geraldton late on Sunday.
Strong and gusty winds are expected in coastal areas between Exmouth and Geraldton possibly leading to abnormally high tides.
WEATHER SITUATION
The Bureau is monitoring a developing low pressure system and rain band which is approaching northwest parts of WA.
On Sunday the low and associated rain band are predicted to approach the northern west coast. Areas of rain will develop over the far western Pilbara and western Gascoyne during the day extending into the Central West during the evening. Rainfall becoming heavier during the evening may lead to localised flooding. The heavy rainfall may extend eastwards into the central Gascoyne and adjacent Pilbara on Monday morning as the low makes landfall, persisting along the Pilbara coast west of Karrartha into Monday evening. Conditions will begin to ease from the west as the low moves further inland to the southeast.
Forecast rainfall over a 24hr period between 50-100mm is expected and there is the potential for some isolated heavier falls in excess of 150mm. In some susceptible areas of the western Pilbara and western Gascoyne, total rainfall for the event may exceed 200mm.
As the low approaches the west coast, strong and gusty NE to NW winds are expected in coastal areas from Exmouth to Geraldton. There is a slight risk that higher than normal tides may be observed along the west coast which may lead to minor coastal inundation of low lying areas, particularly in Shark Bay and Geraldton.
There still remains some uncertainty on the predicted path and strength of the low and rain band. Weather prediction models have shown considerable agreement with forming these weather systems however they do differ somewhat on the timing and extent of the potential bad weather.
The weather is unusual for this time of year and heavy rainfall may cause damage to property and infrastructure and make road conditions hazardous.