Leonora's wettest September day on record as WA's inland floods
Leonora recorded 59mm in 24 hours. This was its wettest September day ever. By month end, it had accumulated 136mm.
Western Australia's spring began with extreme swings in weather. There was unusual flooding inland and summer-like heat on the coast.
In early September, a slow-moving trough pulled tropical moisture into the Goldfields and Interior, dumping well above average rain on areas that normally see 5 to 15mm for the month. Leonora was hit hardest, seeing 59mm fall in the 24 hours to 9am on September 7, nearly double its previous September record from 1984.
Heavy rain closed the Goldfields Highway and flooded roads around town. By month's end, Leonora had collected more than 136mm, far exceeding its usual 9mm monthly average.
Meanwhile, warm northerly winds pushed temperatures soaring across southern WA. Perth reached 30.3C on September 16, its first 30-degree day of the season and warmest since April.
Several towns set new September records, with some locations recording temperatures up to 12 degrees above normal.
- 59mm
- Rain in 24 hours
- 32.6mm in 1984
- Previous record
- 136mm
- Monthly total by month end
- 9mm
- Normal monthly average
Why it mattersExtreme weather swings like this disrupt travel, farming and daily life. The records signal shifting spring patterns across WA.
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