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WA hogging unseasonable warmth

Brett Dutschke, Thursday August 21, 2014 - 13:47 AEST

Much of Western Australia's west has already been experiencing unseasonable warm weather this month, now other parts of the state are about to sample it.

The Gascoyne, Central West and Central Wheat Belt having been running two-to-five degrees warmer than a typical August with help from a near-record warm week ending last weekend. Early last week, temperatures rose to the low-to-mid thirties, more than 10 degrees warmer than the August average in some places.

October-like weather is about to redevelop over the region and also spread further south and east, mainly affecting the Goldfields.

A week ago Mullewa had its warmest August week on record, averaging a maximum of 28.1 degrees, eight degrees above average. The Central West town is about to experience a weak averaging 27 degrees, which would take the running monthly average to about 26 degrees, three degrees warmer than the previous warmest August, in 2012.

In the Goldfields the coming week will bring a run of days six-to-eight degrees warmer the long-term August average. For much of the region it is looking like the warmest August week in seven-or-eight years. Kalgoorlie should average a maximum of 27 degrees, seven above average and its warmest August week in seven years.

Weak fronts have been drawing air from the unseasonably warm Indian Ocean before bringing only weak cooler changes. The cooler changes have been so weak that the air has been allowed to warm up more than what is typical for this time of year. One weak front will cross the west and south of the state during today and tomorrow and another front this weekend is likely to slip well south, bringing warmth not seen since April.

From Sunday to Tuesday the Central Wheat Belt, Goldfields and Southern Coastal, including Merredin, Kalgoorlie and Salmon Gums should reach the mid-to-high twenties, and Meekatharra and Leinster the low thirties.

For other Australian states, only pockets of South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales are likely to see their warmest August days in two-to-five years due to a high pressure system being in close proximity, keeping winds a more easterly direction rather than northerly.

- Weatherzone

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