Weather News

WA's winter rain comeback will have to wait

Western Australia's Southwest Land Division has recovered somewhat after a very dry July, but the rainfall recovery will be put on hold until next week.

Despite a reasonably wet start to August, the area is still desperate for good rain, but it won't arrive until Monday or Tuesday. The rest of this week and the weekend are looking dry across a large part of the region as a high pressure system keeps fronts away.

Not all places have done well this month regarding rainfall, some have just been teased by light falls. This has been frustrating for farmers.

Bencubbin in the Central Wheat Belt has already had its monthly average days of rain but less than half the average rainfall. It's 10 days of rain have brought only 18mm. The monthly average is 11 rain days and 37mm. The 18mm so far this month still leaves it 50mm short of the winter average of 131mm. That's a lot of rainfall to make up, especially considering the wetter-than-average June, when 141mm fell.

Salmon Gums in the Southern Coastal district has had its winter average of 35 rain days, but is still 35mm short of its winter average rainfall of 108mm.

Looking ahead to next week, at least it looks like decent widespread rain but it will be accompanied by fairly strong winds due to a strong cold front. Much of the Southwest Land Division should see 10-20mm. With the rain, much like in the last few weeks, it will be heaviest about the western and southern coasts.

Perth should be one place to do fairly well next week, possibly gaining 15-to-30mm. The city has had 66mm this month so far from 12 rain days, half the August average of 133mm. This winter has been only marginally wetter than the driest winter on record, 243mm so far.

Perth's record dry winter was in 2006, when only 230mm was recorded, 150mm less than average.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2012

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