October keeps WA guessing with warm temperatures, showers and even hail

Western Australia experienced a rollercoaster of weather in October, characterized by extreme temperatures, showers, and even hail. The changeable conditions left the entire state uncertain about what would come next. ABC viewers captured the diverse weather patterns, from storms and hail to sunny beach weather and stunning sunrises.

While the month started calmly in Perth with spring-like temperatures in the low 20s, conditions quickly changed. A slow-moving low pressure trough brought thunderstorms to the Goldfields, Gascoyne, and Interior, along with rain across parts of the South West. Lightning struck far northern and eastern parts of Perth, with Perth experiencing 12 days above its average maximum temperature of 23.4C.

However, some areas saw unusually chilly mornings, while the north sweltered through temperatures well above average. Exmouth recorded hail for the first time in its 30 years of existence, a rare occurrence in the coastal town. Temperatures across the state varied dramatically, with differences of up to 25 degrees Celsius between the Kimberley and Eucla.

The last week of October saw cold fronts and low-pressure troughs bring rain and showers, especially to the south-west corner and the interior, making parts of the region wetter than average. Perth, however, was short on rainfall, with only 38.6mm in October, marking six consecutive months of below-average rain. The Bureau of Meteorology's long-range forecast predicts an increased chance of unusually high rainfall across southern WA from November onwards, but whether Perth will finally receive some much-needed rain before summer remains a question.