Weather and Climate

Western Australia has one of the most diverse climates in Australia – from the tropical north to the temperate south – which means equally diverse holiday experiences.

There are also two distinct seasonal variations. In the southern half of the State we observe four seasons – summer, autumn, winter and spring, while in the north there are just two - the ‘wet’ and the ‘dry’.


Northern Tropics

The northern winter, or ‘dry’ season (April-September), has long days of sunshine and blue skies. Temperatures range from 24 degrees Celsius overnight to around 34 degrees Celsius during the day, and could be called ‘perfect weather’.

Coastal temperatures vary little throughout the day, while the interior may top 40 degrees by day and dramatically drop towards zero in the cool of the night.

The northern summer, or ‘wet’ season (October-March), has temperatures in the mid to high 30s and high humidity. Visitors from cooler climates may find this challenging, however many Europeans love the balmy combination of heat, humidity and long days of sunshine.

A tropical rainstorm is an awesome natural wonder – billowing clouds rise up to 40,000 feet before releasing tonnes of water in a thundering torrent. It’s not unusual for some northern coastal areas to record more than 1.5 metres of rain during this season.

There can also be electrical storms - witness the sky come alive as sheets of lightning flash and illuminate the night for hundreds of kilometres. Locals will often turn off the television and retire to the balcony to watch these spectacular episodes.


Southern Sunshine

South of the Tropic of Capricorn the weather is less dramatic.

The southern coastal areas of the South West region average a maximum of around 32 degrees in summer, and 14 degrees in the winter.

Perth boasts more sunny days per year than any other Australian capital city so sunshine is usually the standard order.

The warm sun and temperate climate has helped Western Australia cement its reputation as a world-renowned food and wine region, and is also conducive to the State’s outdoor lifestyle.

To find out the latest weather or get a forecast visit the Bureau of Meteorology.