WA lashed by once-in-a-decade flood disaster

A severe weather warning is in place in Western Australia as a “once-in-a-decade” flood event has destroyed roads and washed away highways.

Floods which have washed away highways and lashed north-western Western Australia have been described as a “one in 10 year” event.

Western Australia’s Gascoyne region has been inundated with hundreds of millimetres of rain over the last few days.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather and flood warning for the mid-west Gascoyne regions and the region north of Perth including Lancelin.

Heavy rainfall has also reached Perth and Central Western region, with it predicted to get worse later tonight.

“The advice is that this is a one in 10 year flood,” WA Premier Mark McGowan said on Saturday.

Rain from the low that's tracking down the coast has reached #Perth, likely becoming heavier through this afternoon & tonight. Central Western regions also experiencing heavy falls. Rain has started over the Wooroloo fire area. Multiple #warnings in place https://t.co/ohoB5G3o3m pic.twitter.com/ZlRq1nKx4x

— Bureau of Meteorology, Western Australia (@BOM_WA) February 6, 2021

Heavy rain has fallen through the western Gascoyne over the past few days due to the passage of a low pressure system. The low will bring further heavy rain, possible damaging wind gusts and abnormally high tides as it continues its path down the west coast today and tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/VHjKTJFZOC

— Bureau of Meteorology, Western Australia (@BOM_WA) February 6, 2021

A tropical low has brought severe weather to the north-west of the state and is now moving down the coast.

It slowed as it moved over WA’s north-west, dumping heavy rain, particularly over the Gascoyne region, with some sites receiving over 200mm.

About 40 people had to be evacuated via helicopter and emergency services from Minilya, about 120 kilometres north of Carnarvon, on Friday.

Dramatic photos have emerged of sections of the North West Coastal Highway near Minilya being washed away.

A truck trapped on an island in floods on the North West Coastal Highway, north of Carnarvon. Picture: Supplied by Rob Minson via ABC News

“The closures in some sections will be prolonged due to the damage of the road,” Mr McGowan said.

“We will work to limit the closures and reopen the highway as soon as practicable.

“Roadbuilding crews are ready to deploy as soon as flood levels recede sufficiently to make it safe to assess the extent of damage and then initiate emergency repairs.”

The North West Coast Highway remains closed at two points, from the Overland Roadhouse north to Carnarvon and north of Carnarvon to Coral Bay.

Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan has issued a warning about crossing flooded roads. Picture: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

“Do not try to walk or dry through floodwaters, this is extremely dangerous,” Mr McGowan said.

“Do not risk your life and the lives of emergency services personnel by entering floodwaters. A flood can take control of a four-wheel-drive vehicle in just 30cms of flowing water.”

The Bureau of Meteorology’s WA state manager James Ashley said some sites had received over 200mm of rain during the course of the weather event.

“This resulted in the Gascoyne River rising significantly, currently running at seven metres at Nine Mile Bridge and it’s expected to peak at 7.1 metres at 3pm today,” he said.

“In comparison, people in that area will remember the river flooding in 2010. During that event the river peaked at 7.7 metres.”

He said rains were expected to ease and floodwaters would slowly recede.

“Significantly, no further heavy rainfall is forecast for any of those areas” Mr Ashley said.

“So we should see, while the river heights also remain elevated for some days, there will be a slow decrease as no further rainfall falls in the area.”