Perth Weather: Dry April set for wet and wild end with rain and storms forecast

After what has felt like one of the driest starts to a year in some time, Perth residents are encouraged to turn off their sprinklers and close their windows with a wet and stormy end to April on the horizon.

Aside from flash flooding in the city’s northern coastal suburbs earlier in April, typically pleasant and sunny conditions are set to take a rainy turn.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts showers and thunderstorms across the metro area coming from the north— with a severe thunderstorm warning in place for areas north of Perth, with heavy rainfall and large hailstones likely.

Between 1mm and 6mm of rain is forecast broadly across the city, with up to 15-20mm possible if a storm moves overhead.

Suburbs hardest hit by rainfall will be those where storms are present and cannot be accurately predicted.

Morning gusts of up to 80km/h are expected in the hills and 45km/h in the city, with winds easing across Perth in the hours after lunch.

A maximum of 24C has been forecast in the mid to late afternoon.

In a welcome forecast for farmers, the wet weather is likely to stay for the opening days of May with a high chance of showers on Wednesday and Thursday.

While rain is on the way, cooler temps will be kept at bay for a little longer — as maximums of 27C and 26C respectively are forecast up to Friday.

The weekend is expected to welcome a return to blue skies and warm weather, with temperatures in the early to mid-20s and minimal cloud cover on the way.

Perth’s average metro rainfall for the first four months of the year is 86.8mm, though alarmingly the city has only recorded 9.6mm to date.

Farmers struggling with a crippling drought will soon be able to access an $8.6 million assistance package, announced Friday by Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis.

The package will include $4milion in interest-free loans and $2million in hardship grants for farmers struggling with record-low rainfall.

The loans are capped at $25,000 per business and the grants at $5000.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning advice

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) advises if you live in parts of Central West, Lower West, Central Wheatbelt and Gascoyne districts you should take action and stay safe, with severe thunderstorms and possible large hailstones to come.

Locations that may be affected include Moora, Dalwallinu, Dowerin, Morawa, Wonga Hills and Lancelin.

This weather is not unusual for this time of year, but could damage homes and make travel dangerous.

• If outside find safe shelter away from trees, powerlines, storm water drains and streams.
• Close your curtains and blinds, and stay inside away from windows.
• Unplug electrical appliances and avoid using landline telephones if there is lightning.
• If there is flooding, create your own sandbags by using pillow cases filled with sand and place them around doorways to protect your home.
• If boating, swimming or surfing leave the water.

If driving:

• Do not drive into water of unknown depth and current.
• Slow down, turn your lights on and keep a safe distance from other drivers.
• Be alert and watch for hazards on the road such as fallen powerlines and loose debris.
• If it is raining heavily and you cannot see, pull over and park with your hazard lights on until the rain clears.

PERTH FORECAST

TUESDAY: 24C, showers, possible storm

WEDNESDAY: 16-27C, high chance of showers

THURSDAY: 17-26C, high chance of showers

FRIDAY: 16-23C, medium chance of showers

SATURDAY: 14-24C, partly cloudy

SUNDAY: 13-24C, mostly sunny

MONDAY: 11-24C, mostly sunny