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Unseasonal soaking inundates west coast

Ben Domensino, Tuesday January 16, 2018 - 13:01 AEDT

Parts of Western Australia's lower west coast have just experienced one of their wettest days on record during the driest month of the year.

The remnants of Tropical Cyclone Joyce are dragging warm, moisture-laden air across Western Australia, producing widespread rain and storms.

Some of the heaviest falls during the 24 hours to 9am WST today were in the Central West District, in and around Perth.

Rottnest Island received a whopping 142mm up to 9am, which was its heaviest daily rainfall total since 1992 and the second heaviest on record. This was also the heaviest daily total on record during January by more than 60mm.

This feat is remarkable considering less than 10mm of rain typically falls throughout all of January at Rottnest Island, making this the driest month of the year.

Swanbourne's 139mm up to 9am today was their heaviest daily rain on records going back to 1993, while Dwellingup's 147mm is its highest daily total since 1982.

Perth had received 90mm of rain during the 24 hours ending at 9am today, which is close to double the city's entire summer average of 50mm. This was Perth's heaviest rain in 11 months and the heaviest daily total for January in 18 years.

Rain and thunderstorms will continue spreading towards the state's southwest capes today, allowing conditions to ease in Perth. Widespread showers and storms will also affect the state's remaining western and northern districts, with severe storms are possible.

Flood watches and warnings were in place for a number of districts this morning, along with a severe weather warning for heavy rainfall and flash flooding.

Visit www.weatherzone.com.au/warnings.jsp or www.dfes.wa.gov.au for the latest warning information.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2018

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