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Winter storms see Bunbury cop 260mm rain in wettest July in two decades

Headshot of Jakeb Waddell
Jakeb WaddellBunbury Herald
The South West has been lashed by wet weather as cold fronts hit the region in past weeks.
Camera IconThe South West has been lashed by wet weather as cold fronts hit the region in past weeks. Credit: Michael Wilson/The West Australian, Michael Wilson

Bunbury has officially recorded its wettest July in more than two decades after being drenched by winter storms and heavy downpours last month.

In all, 199.8mm of rain bucketed down on the city over the 31 days, the highest for July on record since 2000, which saw a whopping 263.6mm.

The massive total was thanks in part to a storm on July 9 that saw 37.2mm of rainfall — the biggest soaking for the month and third biggest daily amount so far this year.

A twice-a-year “super storm” also hit the region last Monday night, bringing with it 35.2mm of rain.

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A tree down on Ludlow-Hithergreen Road during one of the storms.
Camera IconA tree down on Ludlow-Hithergreen Road during one of the storms. Credit: Supplied / Facebook

The Bureau of Meteorology last week said it had been a wetter July compared with other years this century throughout the entire South West district.

And while rain fell hard on Bunbury throughout the month, temperatures rarely dropped to single digits, with the average minimum for July sitting at 10.13C — the warmest since at least 1995.

The city’s mean maximum for the month was a standard 17.15C.

August is already on track to be another wet month for the city, with a total of 21.8mm already recorded in its first two days alone.

Conditions are unlikely to ease this week, with a 95 per cent chance of rain today and at least another 10mm to 15mm expected to fall on the city by the end of the week.

Elsewhere in the South West, 211.1mm of rain fell on Margaret River for July, Busselton recorded 137.5mm, Harvey was drenched with a staggering 305.9mm and Manjimup was soaked by 248.4mm.

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