Western Australia endures record-dry July with scant rain and soaring temperatures

July 2026 turned out to be one of the driest months on record for large parts of Western Australia, with Perth’s gauge measuring just 56.8 mm of rain—under half its long-term average. A persistent high-pressure ridge prevented the usual succession of Southern Ocean cold fronts, producing clear skies, foggy mornings and temperatures up to 10 °C above normal, such as Jurien Bay’s 26.9 °C record high. Mid-month thunderstorms finally delivered rain to the South West, but totals remained far below seasonal expectations, leaving places like Albany and Northam with only a fraction of their typical July rainfall.

The deficit has left agricultural paddocks dry during the peak growing season, and forecasts suggest August may remain similarly arid. Photographs submitted by one outlet readers illustrated the stark contrast between the dry conditions and occasional rainbows seen during brief showers.