Wettest March for Perth in four decades
Perth has recorded its wettest March in 42 years after strong rain fell over the metropolitan area last night.
In the 23 hours since 9am yesterday Perth saw 24.6mm of rain fall over the city pushing the monthly total to 69.6mm. It makes this month the fourth wettest March on record.
Dwellingup recorded the State’s most rain overnight hitting 42.8mm at 8.30am.
How was the weather in your area? Email us your pictures or MMS 0402 228 221. |
Strong gusts were also recorded along the coast with Rottnest Island feeling the brunt of 100km/h gusts at 1.30am this morning. At 8am gusts of 89km/h were still being felt on the island. Ocean Reef also recorded gusts of 87km/h between 5am and 5.30am today.
The State Emergency Service responded to five call-outs overnight across the metropolitan area, mostly for leaking roof damage.
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster James Ashley said most of the rain had now passed over the Perth metropolitan region and was moving east along the south coast towards Albany and Esperance.
“All the weather is moving to the east and we’re in a southerly flow, generally we’ll pick up showers if we’re in a south westerly but once we’re too far south the showers tend to drop off,” he said.
He said the weather was expected to clear up tonight with the forecast for the rest of the month predicted to be warm and sunny.
Mr Ashley said however that a cold air mass would push temperatures below 10 degrees.
“It will be cold overnight tonight with all the southerly air that’s come up, quite a cold air mass, (it will) drop into the single figures tonight,” he said.
In the south of the State, falls were also significant. To 9am this morning: Bridgetown recorded 16mm; Bunbury 15mm; Witchcliffe 24mm; Albany 31mm; Esperance 18mm; Lake Grace 15mm; Wandering 22mm; Dalwallinu 19mm;
A maximum of 21C is forecast today and the showers should ease by noon. Warmer, drier weather is expected to return for Easter with a maximum of 30C forecast for Easter Sunday.
Strong winds in Stoneham Street, Joondanna, overnight. Picture: Ian Munro/The West Australian
