The first storm to hit Western Australia this winter is set to bring destructive winds and isolated flooding to the southern half of the state.

The Bureau of Meteorology on Monday warned residents in the western parts of the Gascoyne region and northern parts of the Central West district to prepare for damaging wind gusts up to 100km/h and possible flash flooding from heavy rain.

Wind gusts exceeding 125km/h are expercted to batter Perth ahead of a storm front hitting metropolitan areas about 3pm on Tuesday, with damaging surf conditions along coastal areas between Shark Bay to Cape Leeuwin.