West Weather Watchers

West Weather Watchers Ensuring WA remains data-driven & weather-ready, by reporting real-time updates and forecasting outlooks for the state.
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We provide accurate data and on the ground weather information. Storm chasing in WA since '99 we are the OG weather outlet ✌️

🥶 Another frosty Friday 🥶 A chilly start today across parts of the SWLD.Illustrated below using the 7am apparent temps f...
30/07/2026

🥶 Another frosty Friday 🥶

A chilly start today across parts of the SWLD.

Illustrated below using the 7am apparent temps from the Bureau, showing areas of - 4 to - 3 degrees across the Wheatbelt and inland Goldfields.

How are conditions on your property? 🥶

👀 Half the state receiving rainfall next week? 🌧️ Early signs are that next week is leaning towards a wetter one than th...
30/07/2026

👀 Half the state receiving rainfall next week? 🌧️

Early signs are that next week is leaning towards a wetter one than the previous few. In part due to a low (model dependant) and cold front due earlier in the week for the SWLD, plus an atmospheric river of moisture being drawn down into the western Pilbara and Gascoyne also possible. The precipitable water values for this northern feature are looking to be north of 45mm, however there is some uncertainty around how far south these values, and therefore meaningful rainfall, will extend inland.

All models are not all in agreement on this, with a couple not getting on board completely, however the Euro and AU models are at the very least.

Following later next week signals are for a stronger cold front to affect the SWLD, with the potential for some penetrative rainfall and stronger winds with this system.

Below we have used the OCF model, illustrating the rainfall potential through to Wednesday evening.

*report generated 30th of July.

Friday's front is looking... modest at best 🌧️As illustrated using a simulated forecast radar, that weak cold front is d...
29/07/2026

Friday's front is looking... modest at best 🌧️

As illustrated using a simulated forecast radar, that weak cold front is due through Friday and again the OCF accumulated totals are painting a fairly unremarkable picture. As has been the case from the last event, the best totals are expected along the coastal fringe from Bunbury down through Walpole and Albany, with some spots forecast to pick up around 10mm.

Perth, Kwinana and the coastal strip north of Bunbury are looking at a more modest sub 5mm. Wow. Head inland to Collie, Katanning, Lake Grace or Southern Cross and, like last time, the totals drop away to next to nothing.

Esperance and Condingup way east look set to miss out too, sitting under 2mm for the event.

Nothing to write home about, but every bit will help given how dry it's been. We'll keep an eye on it as confidence builds....or not. 🤞

Next week is looking more promising for more robust totals, with a deepening low and series of cold fronts to possibly affect the region. This could include another NW rain band and falls for the Gascoyne and Western Pilbara, but more to come on this in coming reports.

In the meantime

28/07/2026

AVON RIVER PUMPING 2021💦

Who remembers when the Avon was pumping back in July 2021.

Scenes that won't be repeated this year for the Avon decent unless the next few weeks brings SIG rainfall to the catchment.

Thanks SAM 🙄 As illustrated below, we've got a few hefty highs all nosing in well south of where they'd normally camp ou...
27/07/2026

Thanks SAM 🙄

As illustrated below, we've got a few hefty highs all nosing in well south of where they'd normally camp out in July. Two 1030hPa and 1037hPa out in the Indian Ocean and another 1032hPa over central Australia. That's a weak SAM at work, and it's the story for our dry stretch.

Down in the Southern Ocean there's no shortage of punch, with the winter time lows sub 980hPa pounding away in the roaring 40's and furious 50's, with the cold fronts stacked up. However if you follow the arrows those ridges are acting like roadblocks, keeping the serious weather suppressed to the south of the state. The end result being settled conditions and a dry NE'ly flow for us, while all the good stuff slides past well south. It's exactly why so much of the state has felt parched this month.

The SAM needs to swing negative to really open the door again, and, as reported this isn't forecast to happen anytime soon with the forecast ensemble mean holding neutral till months end.

So with that, we normally say , but no need till maybe some showers are possible later in the week from another weak front.

⚠️ DRY JULY ON STEROIDS ⚠️ We'll if a map paints a picture this is it. Virtually no SIG rainfall is forecast for the SWL...
26/07/2026

⚠️ DRY JULY ON STEROIDS ⚠️

We'll if a map paints a picture this is it. Virtually no SIG rainfall is forecast for the SWLD in the next 7 days, making it a very dry July for many parts.

Temps across the Central West, Wheatbelt and Lower West are even forecast to creep back up into the low to mid 20s and later this week, before yet another weak anticlimactic cold front is possible Friday/Saturday.

Unfortunately the Southern Annular Mode is forecast to return to neutral by months end, which doesn't bode well for the start of August. From there the forecast ensemble mean is suggesting the SAM to remain neutral till the end of August. Team this up with another series of ginormous high pressure systems and it's a recipe for disaster.

Long range models signaled a weak end to the rain season for the SWLD back in May, and it seems to be coming to fruition.

We are not really sure what else to say but let's hope all the models are wrong.

Thoughts WA? 🙏

Severe Thunderstorm Warningfor DAMAGING WINDSWeather Situation: A rainband associated with a frontal passage is generati...
26/07/2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning
for DAMAGING WINDS

Weather Situation: A rainband associated with a frontal passage is generating strong showers capable of producing locally damaging wind gusts this afternoon.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Albany.

Not something you see mid winter - a cold front this weak🌧️ As depicted below you can see the weak cold front moving thr...
25/07/2026

Not something you see mid winter - a cold front this weak🌧️

As depicted below you can see the weak cold front moving through the SWLD, and even with a slightly negative SAM it's a poor showing.

Exactly as models predicted, rainfall totals have been appalling from a cold front deep in a WA winter, with the max totals not even reaching double digits. Furthermore it's been confined to the circled area, and predominantly coastal within that. There is followup rainfall to come today for the SC coastal areas in the cold air pool, which should drag some of those totals up to double digits.

The max gust has been 100km/h at Cape Leeuwin at 1.45am and these winds are predicted to retreat to the SC throughout the day.

Perth? Don't hold your breath but could see a few mm by stumps.

Let us know how you went below. 👇✌️

👀 Nice looking front. Shame about the rainfall.🌧️ Today we see the cold front clearly on the satellite, and TBH kind of ...
25/07/2026

👀 Nice looking front. Shame about the rainfall.🌧️

Today we see the cold front clearly on the satellite, and TBH kind of looks OK right? Yes, however that huge high in the bight is pushing it ever so slowly to the SE. This front is due on the Capes round midnight, with possible gusts to 90km/h for coastal parts of the southern SW extending to coastal South Coast during the morning.

Rainfall is forecast to be even less than earlier anticipated with coastal areas only forecast to maybe pickup in the order of 10-15mm along the SC. These figures decrease rapidly as the front progresses inland to next to nothing by the time it reaches the GS, CWB and CW. This is in part due to weak PWAT values.

Perth is maybe in for up to 5mm so get the hoses out to top up the garden.

Let us know how much you record, and don't record with this sad excuse for a peak wintertime front 👇

In the meantime

👀This unfortunately caught our attention 👀 The Bureau are still warning of likely below average rainfall August to Octo...
24/07/2026

👀This unfortunately caught our attention 👀

The Bureau are still warning of likely below average rainfall August to October across the Southwest, and above average likely in the NW of the state. August to October rainfall is likely to be below average (60 to 80% chance) for most of the South West Land Division. There is also an increased chance of unusually low rainfall (40 to 70% chance) for parts of the Southwest.

As illustrated this map says it all, with the deep red across much of the SWLD, meaning only a 20-25% chance of exceeding median rainfall for the period. In actual fact when exploring the deep red area, some are as low as only a 9% chance 😱

As was reported earlier in the season it's not looking good across much of the SWLD, with some locations on track to receive record low rainfall in over 100 years of records.

We would ask how much rain have you received so far this season, but some totals are not very easy on the eyes! Spare a thought for the state's primary producers.

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