Rains Finally Arrive For Western Australia

Widespread rains have finally arrived for Western Australian farmers itching to get planting wheat. The southwest corner of WA was hammered by gales, squally showers and thunderstorms on Friday for the second consecutive day, report Elders on their website.

The wild weather comes as a blessing for grain growers hoping for a good start to the cropping season after a record warm and dry start to the month. Perth received no rain and average maximum temperatures of 26 degrees until the 20th but has now picked up 24mm and shivered to just 17 degrees on Friday, their coldest day since September, they add.

The rain was heavier to the north and south of Perth with Brunswick Junction receiving 119mm over the past 48 hours, their wettest 2 day period in 24 years. In the Central West Northampton's 60mm on Thursday was their heaviest rain in nine years. The wheat belt also received good falls with between 5 and 30mm, they conclude.

Western Australia is the nation's top producing and exporting wheat state.