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Aussie state battles through ‘wettest’ July in decades

Western Australia is experiencing its wettest July in decades, with the latest in a month-long series of powerful cold fronts putting much of the state on flood-watch.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for the state’s southwest corner, with residents told to brace for intense rain, dangerous winds and potential flooding.

It comes after a short-lived reprieve over the weekend to the relentless wet weather that’s been battering Western Australia this month.

Weather radar image forecasting heavy rain and dangerous winds across southwest WA on Monday and Tuesday. Source: Bureau of Meteorology
Heavy rain and dangerous winds are expected across southwest WA on Monday and Tuesday. Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Duty forecaster Stephen McInerney said consecutive cold fronts, powerful storms and heavy downpours have dumped more than 215 millimetres on the state this month, making it the wettest July since 2000.

“Certainly seems to be one of the wettest July’s I have seen in Perth,” he said.

And with little reprieve in sight, there's every chance this July could be declared the wettest on record for Perth.

“Given the rainfall today and another cold front coming Thursday to Friday, the rainfall will continue at least until August,” warned Mr McInerney.

File image of a man with an umbrella walking in the rain. Source: Getty Images
Consecutive cold fronts, powerful storms and heavy downpours have dumped more than 215 millimetres on Western Australia this month. Source: Getty Images

Gloomy weather in WA leads to ‘dullest July' in 25 years

The record-breaking wet weather has plunged Perth into darkness, with the city averaging only 4.5 hours of sun each day.

That’s well below the 6.1 hours of sunlight the city typically gets around this time of year, as measured at Perth airport.

The Bureau of Meteorology declared it the “dullest July in a quarter of a century.”

Sunny skies for Sydney and Brisbane

Much more pleasant conditions are forecast for eastern Australia, with Sydney and Brisbane expecting a sunny winter week.

Temperatures will hit the mid-twenties across Sydney, with a maximum of 26 degrees on Sunday. Clear skies are also on the cards for Brisbane, with a top of 25 degrees.

It’s been a wetter than normal start to winter in Australia but these damp days are far from over with new predictions of above average rainfall until late November.

Wet weather event increasing rainfall across Australia for next 4 months

The Bureau of Meteorology has officially declared a so-called negative phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), a climate phenomenon which was responsible for one of Australia’s wettest winters on record.

It means southern and eastern Australia should brace for a soaking in spring with lower than average temperatures and a late start to the fire season.

Map of Australia showing average rainfall this year. Source: Bureau of Meteorology
Large parts of Australia have seen above average rainfall this year. Source: Bureau of Meteorology

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